the funeral was held two weeks after. ricky went and so did matt's family and friends. matt's family didn't come except harry and katrina. his mom and dad said matt was troubled and dismissed the hateful comments on social media. ricky was digusted with the way they still treated him.

everything went by too fast. matt spent a whole year trying to believe he was okay that the people he loved more than ricky didn't matter to him. he fooled with his emotions, believing what seemed almost impossible.

ricky had moved out of their complex, moving to an apartment far away from Gallows Park and the cemetery. he kept matt in his life with pictures he couldn't delete and items he couldn't toss. he had bought himself a dog he and matt couldn't have since the other was allergic.

he visited matt once a month. the love he had had vanished the night of the suicide. ricky didn't feel guilt that he let matt die. he knew it was what matt wanted and if he did save him, matt would fall into a sort of depression.

it was for the good. how come it still hurts to accept that?

ricky loved matt so, so much. from the moment he saw him in the tea cafe, to their first time, and to the time they moved in together. he missed him and soon those once a month visits became weekly. matt couldn't be erased from his life.

if only he did something different. if only he realized what was wrong earlier instead of going along with it. if only he helped him.

ricky truly regretted that he didn't see the faults in their hearts earlier.