Everything was shattered now, though. The scars of such a tragedy would run deeper than Summer had ever been prepared for. The weight of repressed emotions pressed heavily on her heart as she stared through the bus window. It wasn’t an easy decision, but she needed to leave. To escape the reminders that haunted her at every corner.
There was still so much that hadn’t been said. So much that couldn’t be said. Summer couldn’t help the mixture of sadness and relief that flooded through her at intervals, causing an occasional quiet sob that threatened to break her anew. She thought of Andre and swallowed back the rising guilt for leaving him behind. He deserved more than just a fading memory of yet another friend he’d never see again. Their connection probably meant more to him than it ever could to her. She’d always been surrounded by friends and family, whereas he had always been surrounded by a growing list of memorial dates and obituaries. She cursed inwardly, feeling the unbearable weight of unspoken words between them. And then, there he was, sitting beside her, eyes filled with some emotion she couldn’t quite place. Some potent mixture of longing, vulnerability, and pain. “Summer,” he whispered, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Hey, Andre,” she said, her eyes meeting his in surprise, a sad smile on her lips. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” “I couldn’t let you go without saying something,” he confessed, fingers tracing invisible patterns on his lap. “What is it?” “I know things have changed again for the both of us. I don’t expect things to go back to the way they were,” he murmured. “But I want you to know that you’re still the best friend I’ve ever had in my life. I value that friendship. I don’t want to lose touch with you when you leave.” Her head hurt from holding back the tears welling up inside as she listened to words that brought a strange sense of solace to a broken and uncertain world. “I feel the same way, but I don’t think I’d ever be able to find the words to say it. Everything that’s happened… it’s just so hard to make sense of it all.” He nodded, the empathy in his eyes another reminder that he’d endured before, and he was preparing to do so again. “I understand. Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes, nothing at all helps. But I know that we can get through this if we hold onto the good. If you ever need to talk, I want to be there for you.” Their outstretched hands found one another, fingers intertwining. Summer felt a glimmer of hope breaking free of the pain. In that moment, she saw Andre in a new way. He was more than just a friend. He was a pillar of support. A reminder that she didn’t have to face the darkness alone. As the bus carried them away from the old playground, she clung to the belief that she and Andre would be able to navigate the uncertain future together. That, amidst the tears of summer, a silent understanding mingled between them. A blessed assurance that their friendship could be a source of strength and healing. A beacon of light guiding them through the darkness. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting its final golden rays upon the city. Summer held onto the hope that their bond could endure, guiding them into a future where laughter and joy could bloom once more.
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AuthorLawrence Henry is an aspiring author with more caffeine than time. BTW, here's some of my thoughts on a few varied subjects. Archives
July 2023
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