farm benefits

Andrew's shoulders relax with the quiet of the forest. He still doesn't speak much but here he feels like he doesn't need to. There are no things that can't be communicated without words, he doesn't need to find the right ones or hear the sound of his voice that scares people. He can just nod along with whatever the younger man says and asks of him, and Oh, how he loves doing that. He loves following Dennis, lifting him up to lower hanging branches so Dennis can climb them or chasing after him. Andrew never smiles as much as when they are on their hike, so far away from all the city noises and especially people who judge him for everything he does. Dennis and Andrew feel like boys, with a freedom they were never allowed to have when they were kids.

On the midway point of their hike, they have a picnic. Each of them having their own lunchbox, snacking on sandwiches and sliced vegetables and fruit. It's so... peaceful. So much more than Robby could've imagined. It seems like being out in nature also opened up some of those walls he forced up in his daily life.

On their drive back home, Andrew and Dennis practically instantly fall asleep in the back of the car, lazily leaning against each other or Dennis resting his legs on Andrew's lap. Either way they are tuckered O U T. Robby looks in the backrear mirror to watch them for a moment before just letting out a soft laugh. _Just like dogs._ He thinks but his heart swells.