it's been three years since caleb left.

three years.

i left bridgeport for college but i come back during breaks.

so much has changed.

caleb's dad moved away.

his brother too.

his grave is still covered by flowers, nestled next to his mother. 

caleb told me his dad was abusive.

beneath the satin dresses and diamond rings were bruises and beneath a pretty mask was a woman barely clinging to her sanity.

it was hard to believe at first.

she was warm and shiny, like a golden goblet of apple cider.

you could drink her in and never feel satisfied.

caleb was the one that found her swinging in the clutches of the rope, her body dancing to death's melody.

he broke after that.

it was hard to tell by just being around him but mentally, i think that's what really made him snap.

she was the only person that actually gave a shit about him, even though their relationship wasn't perfect.

it's hard to have someone next to you, laughing and smiling and then suddenly that person disappears.

it's almost ironic that that's nearly the exact same thing caleb did to me.

he was born a paradox, an unwanted second child that became the picture of all things sons are meant to be, and he vanished like one too; he vanished without a trace like he never wanted to be found but really, it was just a cry for help.