(updated playlist!!!!) heres a pic of me looking kinda snacky and aesthetic also i couldn't leave this story alone :/

it had been almost two years since i'd heard from michael; but not since i've seen him. i'd catch quick glances at him at school, but tried to keep my distance. but on a particular sunday afternoon, he texted me.

i grew the flowers you gave to me. i didn't forget you.

a picture was attached of the forget-me-nots. they were beautiful, with soft sunlight passing through the gaps between the stems. i didn't know what the right response would be after such a long silence, the only sound from him being the white noise he left behind in my memories.

i didn't forget you either. i've been waiting for our forever, if you still want it.

it took him five minutes to respond.

meet me where you found my lighter tomorrow at sunset.

i confirmed that i would.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"michael," i almost gasped, searching for the air in my lungs to hold my composure. there was no black on him at all, just a pink t-shirt and light denim jeans.

"luke, i've grown." he got off the swing he'd been sitting on to walk over to me, reaching for my trembling hands.

"the mountains could learn a thing or two from you, then." his smile brought a flood of memories to the forefront of my mind and i thought i just might cry. "michael, i love you."

"and i, you." at that i did start crying. he reached up, grazing his thumb over my cheeks to wipe away a tear. "will you stay?" he asked quietly.

"if you'll have me."

i held his right hand in my left, leading him to sit with me on the swings. it was almost unnatural to be with him after so long, but at the same time, it felt so comfortable. i waited for him to speak. "i went to therapy, which i thought wouldn't help at all, but it did. i stopped smoking and i've been clean of self harm for about a year."

"michael, i'm so proud of you,"

"do you really deserve to say that, luke? i did it alone, did i not?" he wasn't angry with me, he was hurt. "but i know where you're coming from. i didn't want you to be with me through my journey; i needed to do it alone. i guess i'm just sad because of time stolen by my mind. so while you don't deserve to be proud of me, i'm glad you are. i'm sorry i'm rambling, its just that i want to make up for stolen time."

"i know, i'm sorry. if you want to tell me your story, i'm here to listen."

he did. the medications that helped him to stabilize his moods and appetite, the people he met along the way, the coping skills he learned, near death experiences, hospitalizations. he talked for hours; i listened for all of them, committing his new tones and experiences to memory. he lived a whole life in only two years.

"so, what have you been up to?" he said lightly when he was finished with his story.

"oh, you're just going to disregard any comments i was about to make? i see." i chuckled.

"well, i guess you can make comments since you listened to me go off for hours," he smiled.

i made proper comments and asked questions so he would know i was listening so intently the whole time. "i like hearing you speak. i think you're my favorite song," i finished.

"i think you're mine, will you take me home and sing to me? i've missed hearing your voice."

i don't think i let go of his hand for a moment that night; i tried my hardest to hold fast to our past, present, and the forever i knew we would have together.

i hope that wasnt super shitty because i wrote it in like ten minutes but im stopping this at 666 words.
xx- L