nyodrite:

“…lonely?” Charlie murmured to himself softly, in disbelief. Then, seeing that the sentiment – the concern – seemed to be genuine, he went on, “I – don’t understand. I have a job that is engaging and that I love, friends that I can laugh with and who’d be at my side if I were in trouble along with a family that loves me and supports me even if at times they cannot agree with me. How can I be lonely?”

“That’s all well and good, but what about a partner – someone to share your life with?”

“I have that.” He said, confused on why this wasn’t self-evident. “I have that in my brother, who I talk to at least once a week about anything and everything. I have that in my best friend, who I meet up with twice a month and who stays over for a few days each month just to be together.”

It hit Charlie, then, as to what exactly the conversation was really about.

“No it’s not sex,” He said, feeling no remorse at the twitch his blunt statement caused. “And no, I don’t plan on marrying or a – a relationship that you seem to be expecting. But – the absence of both of these things doesn’t somehow make my life lesser or not as fulfilling as yours.”

“I’m happy,” Charlie said, firmly and making eye-contact in hopes of driving this fact home. “I promise you I am, so don’t worry about me being lonely, okay?”