Toxicity to happiness

Hayden had been an openly Trans Man for the last three years. He’d spent part of his life conflicted. Until he came out as a Trans Man while briefly living in Atlanta. Riley had made the decision to move there after marrying a woman he shouldn’t have married. They moved into her place in Atlanta. His mothers death ten years prior had broken him. Maggie had told him he needed to move on with life. She was dead. He told her off seconds after it left her mouth. She’d thrown him out a week after the move for refusing to learn how to drive. Something she knew he would never do because of his seizures. Their constant arguments over things she’d said that he didn’t agree with that didn’t help. He moved in with friends and got a job nearby weeks later. 

She’d been the only one to pick him up after one of his seizures that changed her perspective. He’d been living with friends by that point. Friends that were about to go to work when he had the seizure. Recent comments she made infuriated Riley. To the point he said it was over. That she’d not ever change. It was clear she hadn’t and never would. Hayden and Riley moved back to the small town Riley and Ellie raised Hayden in. Their confrontational argument after comments Riley made further strained their relationship. Hayden had reiterated things weren’t going to work out the majority of the ride back home. Nine years had passed since then though. Their relationship had been further strained when Riley refused to listen to anyone about his increasing health issues. Various things that happened that needed to be checked out. He’d downplayed everything to Hayden while also lying to him and his Doctors. A hospital visit had changed everything. His Doctors, as well as Hayden, told him things he needed to hear. He needed to see how affected Hayden had been. 

He’d taken a leap of faith when he moved to South Florida. He’d been a Remote Freelance Proofreader. It was the leap of faith he’d taken that his dad wasn’t too keen on him doing. Riley hadn’t known about the job Hayden had. For good reason. His strained relationship with Hayden had kept getting worse. Hayden no longer cared what Riley thought. He’d been showing signs of Dementia. He’d not been taking care of himself either. He’d not listened to anything Hayden or Doctors said. He’d not taken care of various health issues he needed to take care of. Hayden had taken a step back from helping him. He’d come out to Riley after a conversation where he was outed. It was clear Riley wasn’t accepting. Hayden had been openly closeted by that point. The leap of faith had given way to new beginnings. He’d gone no contact with Riley after another confrontational argument. Over himself this time. He’d shamed Riley for not accepting him. That Ellie would’ve shamed him far worse. That she would’ve likely divorced him for not accepting him. For not loving him. He’d left for South Florida days later. He’d packed everything up and left after Riley stormed out. He hadn’t much to pack anyway. He’d gotten rid of everything he never used. 

Hayden focused on the life he now had. On the studio apartment close to the beach he’d been living in. He focused on the life he’d built for himself. Riley had been placed into an Assisted Living Facility after another hospitalization. Doctors performed a Neurological evaluation that diagnosed him with Dementia. Nobody had been willing to care for him after the truth came out. Hayden had shared everything when people asked. An Assisted Living Facility had been the better option anyway. It would give him the care he needed. Riley had only gone back to get rid of anything he knew he wouldn’t ever use. He took everything else, pictures mainly back to South Florida. A few friends had taken a much needed vacation and went on a road trip to South Florida. To spend time with Hayden. To update him on their lives. To help him organize his apartment. He was happy for their help. For their friendship as well.