10.

"No, we can't come with you. We'll drive down a little later, okay? See you then. 'Bye." Eric hung up the phone and turned to Jack. "They're leaving now, so we can meet them down there. Is that okay?"

"Fine with me. Did you get everything?"

"Yeah."

They packed up the rental car and hit the road, not saying much, but concentrating on the destination. They arrived at the park an hour later.

"This is nice. Not too hot, not too cold," Jack commented.

"Hard to tell that's it's summer almost." Eric walked over to one of the empty picnic shelters and set some of the things he was carrying on a picnic table. "I'm going to do this fast, and then we can go." He set the outfit he had once been so proud of, the one made from the reddish material, on a barbeque grill and poured lighter fluid on it. "When I burn this, I'll release myself from the fear and continue to move forward. Thanks to you."

"You did this too, Eric. You helped me."

"We helped each other."

"Yeah, we did." They watched in silence as Eric threw the match on the clothes and sent them into flames. The clothes were consumed and turned into ashes in under a minute.

"Did that help?" Jack asked, as they were walking away.

"It didn't hurt," Eric replied honestly. "Like I said, though, I think you're what helped. You and your love."

Jack didn't say anything, just took Eric's hand as they walked away from the park.

As they got in the car, Jack said:

"I love you too."

END