Excited for a musical endeavour I committed to from the second half of 2019, I left George’s house, a fellow musician whom I just had an acoustic vocal and guitar practice. I was set to arrive at Gabriel’s place slightly behind schedule, but, nonetheless, ready for another rehearsal in our band called Kombucha. Members of Kombucha at the time were Dane on drum-kit and backing vocals, Casper on bass guitar and backing vocals, Gabriel on lead guitar and backing vocals, and myself, Matt, on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. One benefit of being in this band is we all sing, and well at that! At the time, the artistic focus was rocking up mainly pop songs in a power-pop genre.

Only hindsight can recall the numerological significance of so many twos in the day’s eventful date: 22/02/20 or a 220 220 pattern. Two can represent the number of people in a monogamous romance, and that’s exactly what I was craving with one of the band members. But, soon, the true reality of the circumstances would become evident.

I identify, as of now, as homosexual. Gabriel was my erotic interest. A classically handsome male with a unique, genuine sensitivity for the deep, spiritual, and esoteric. Most importantly, he is deeply friendly, kind, and loving. I remember during an earlier time of personal crisis where Gabriel declared that he loved me, in a purely platonic way. I love him too, but there’s additional unreciprocated sexually romantic elements on my end. Suppressed desires going unfulfilled.

Fast forward to the day of this band jam, the events that presented themselves were difficult to handle. The band practice meant to have all four members present, but Casper had acquired Ross River Fever and Dane was extremely tired with family duties and poor sleep. I showed up to Gabriel’s place and it was just the two of us. The intimate connection with him I longed turning into a sex act plagued my cognitions.

We began by playing some pieces of music and sharing the lead vocal, choosing him then me to take the microphone, alternating song to song. I had earlier repeatedly commented on how emotionally triggering our band’s version of Tears for Fears’ Mad World was. The lyrics, the instrumental, the sonic climax up the octave for my lead vocal during the final chorus refrain, coupled with lead guitar solo work from Gabriel made the piece intense. However, today it was Brian Jones Town Massacre’s piece Anemone, that Gabriel and Dane had taught me, which was having the most profound effect on my emotional state.

I had admitted to Gabriel three times previously that I had sexual, romantic, and erotic feelings for him. He handled these admissions fine, as if it didn’t register on an emotional level for him. Gabriel is open-minded and compassionate. He was flattered that I had these feelings for him. But, he was, more importantly, very firm that he is not interested in sex nor in a romantic relationship with me.

Despite this clear black and white boundary, I reopened an old can of worms about my erotic intentions with him. I was uneasy and starting to get anxious because I had something final to say to him. The day was panicky.
“I have something to say to you, Gabriel. Though it might end our friendship for good,” I remarked, fear trembling on my breath.

Gabriel responded with rigour, “Is it about your feelings towards me? Just say it, Matt.”

I immediately saw in his eyes that he was aware of what was on my mind, about to be spoken. We had been there before. But this time, it was vastly different. This time, there was no return.

“We cannot be friends or in a band anymore. I want to engage in sexual behaviour with you, however I cannot achieve this, and it hurts me.” My anxiety level went from a 3/10 to a 9/10.

“Well, that is a shame. Dane and I have shaped the band around your vocals, Matt.” Gabriel was visibly disappointed that he was losing a good friend.

My panic level was continuing to elevate. A full-blown panic attack was beginning to rage. Too much air was flowing into my lungs. Virulent oxygen was saturating my insides.

Gabriel tried to reduce my anxiety symptoms. He took me to his veranda and attempted to ground me.

“Try and root yourself to the Earth. Imagine a force rooting you from your head to the ground,” Gabriel instructed.

“Stop saying root!” I snapped back. The sexual chemistry from my end was building.

“Okay, let’s go back inside,” directed Gabriel, calm and together.

I longed for his heterosexuality. I longed that we could continue to be just friends. I longed for stability and safety. I longed for belonging.

We went back into his living area. I asked Gabriel what he thought the definition of psychosis was. He asked Siri in his phone and read to me a Wikipedia definition.

“Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality,” Gabriel informed me.

“Do you think I’m psychotic now?” I asked, hesitant and scared. My body was in fight, flight, freeze, or faint. Right now, I wanted to flee, but I couldn’t. I was trapped. Trapped with beautiful Gabriel, who, tragically for me, did not share any erotic feelings back.

“Am I psychotic now?!” I repeated, my voice increasing in volume, desperate for an answer I wanted to hear.

“In all the time I’ve known you, Matt, you’ve always been psychotic,” Gabriel stated.

“Don’t say that!” I fearfully exclaimed.

I felt humiliated and hurt.

Gabriel brought to my attention a home truth that may or may not be true. He told me that our friendship was phony from my end, as I had only been obsessed with getting into his pants.

My body shuddered. I was completely on-edge.