2
Scott woke up with a jolt when he heard the door to his room close with a loud thud. He has hated very loud sounds since the incident, and it was definitely not a good way to start his day. He grunted and pulled the covers over his head, silently wishing he could go back to sleep. He was starting to doze off when he remembered how important the day was and it was enough to force him to sit up and get out of bed.
“Mitch? That you?” he called out.
Silence.
He peeked out of his room and called out his name a second time. “Mitchieee!”
Still no answer.
He frowned and wondered where his best friend was. He wandered back into his room and occupied himself with fixing the bed. As he was fluffling out the pillows, a piece of paper fell. He picked it up and smiled when he saw that it was the letter he wrote yesterday, his love letter to Mitch. Today he was going to tell him he loved him… more than as a best friend. Almost losing him in that incident was his wake-up call, although he had to admit it took him quite a bit of time to wake up. It has been a year after all, and he was only doing it now.
He spent the next hour preparing himself for the day ahead. He took a shower and put on a crisp, white top and a nice pair of pants. He tried to style his hair the way the way Mitch liked it, pulled up and back, before he made his way out with a grin on his face.
Their new house was way bigger than he would have wanted. He preferred their old apartment but he also knew the change was necessary. There were too many painful memories in their previous home, and staying there wouldn't help them move on. He found himself in the kitchen and he rummaged through the cupboards looking for coffee. He cursed when he didn't find any, but thought it would be good for him to maybe have tea or milk instead. Coffee, like loud sounds, made him very jumpy and anxious. He wanted to stay as calm as possible today, get his head in the game. He grabbed a sandwich and headed out.
Scott walked around the garden, one of the perks he loved about having a bigger place. There were several flowers in bloom and they all looked beautiful. He made a mental note to give a bigger tip to their gardener the next time he saw him. Just as he was about to pick a flower, he heard a familiar voice call out.
"Hey there, Scott!" she greeted chirpily.
Scott spun around and flashed a smile when he saw her. "Hey, Taylor!" It was his neighbor. She was friendly and Scott liked her a lot. He'd been talking to her for weeks, and Taylor knew just what his plans were today.
"Today's the big day, huh?"
"Yeah," he replied shyly.
"Take the red one," she suggested.
"Huh?" It took a while before he realized what Taylor was referring to. "Oh, the flower. Won't it be a little too... cliche? Red?"
"Red means love. And you love him, right?"
The blush crept up his cheeks. "I do. I really do."
“Then take it. Are you excited?” she asked as she walked to where the blonde was, who was now seated on a nearby bench.
“Yes… No. Scared. I think I’m more scared. I keep thinking I’ll chicken out.” He bowed his head and frowned.
Taylor scooted closer and poked him lightly on the waist. “Scott, come on…” she said as she continued to poke him repeatedly. “You can’t think like that. If he’s anything like you’ve told me, then I’m sure he loves you, too. You’ll be fine, Scott.”
He turned his head to look at her. “You really think so?”
“I do,” she replied with a pretty smile on her lips.
He wanted to believe Taylor so bad, but he was also afraid that things wouldn’t work out. “What if I lose him? The way I did…” He stopped, unable to even say the name out loud.
“Alex?” she whispered.
He cringed at the mention of his name. The guilt was still there, lurking in the darkest corners of his mind, and it has eaten him alive since that day.
“But you and Mitch survived. There’s a reason you survived. Maybe you were meant to be together, and now you finally have your chance.” She put her head on his shoulder.
He sighed and placed his head on hers. “I don’t know…”
“Whatever happens, we can talk about it tomorrow, okay? You know where to find me.” She lifted her head to look back at him.
Her smile was so sincere that he could not help but smile back at her despite the anxiety spreading through his chest. “I’ll tell you all about it, don’t worry.”
“Don’t forget the red flowers, okay? I think Mitch will like them.” She winked before getting up to leave.
Scott stayed put a few more moments and mentally rehearsed what he was going to do when Mitch came back. Should he give him the letter first? That’ll give him time to think, right? Without him being too pushy? Or could he just talk to him directly? Face to face? He ran a hand over his hair, frustration and fear now getting to him. All he knew was that he needed to tell him. He needs to be honest with himself and with Mitch. It’s taken him so long. He also knew that if didn’t do it now, he won’t do it ever.
He stood up and hand-picked a dozen red flowers before going back inside the house. He was trying to arrange them when he heard a loud crash.
Scott tried to breathe but the fear overwhelmed him… consumed him instantly. His surroundings changed before his eyes and the walls caved in. It grew darker and hotter, and Scott felt so helpless that he dropped to his knees.
His ears rung as he heard gunshots being fired one after the other.
“Alex, nooooo!” he screamed.
He extended his arm and tried to reach for him but recoiled when he felt the bullet ripping through the flesh on his shoulders.
He barely had time to recover before he felt another bullet pierce his back. He wanted to cling on to Mitch, to protect him and hold him close, but the pain forced him to let go.
The second Mitch was out of his arms, there was another shot. Mitch was thrown back, and blood started to drip out of his chest… out of his heart.
“No, Mitch! MITCHHH!” He wailed as he desperately attempted to reach for him… protect him. But the bullet was faster at reaching his best friend’s stomach.
He closed his eyes momentarily, the shock and pain and fear crippling him. When he opened them Alex and Mitch were gone, and all that was left on the floor was a big red puddle.
“Mitch!!! Mitch!!!” he cried, his hands on the floor, covered with blood.
“Don’t leave meee!”
His vision started to blur as he heard several voices shouting. Then he felt strong arms on him before everything went black.
*****
“Can we see him?” Kirstie asked.
Dr. Hart shook her head. “I’m afraid not, I’m sorry.”
Kirstie’s face fell. “But why? Not even for a bit?”
“He had breakdown earlier so we had to sedate him. One of the staff was pushing a cart full of plates and it fell down with a loud crash. We believe that triggered him. He’s out right now, and will be for the next couple of hours. I wish I had better news to tell you, but Mr. Hoying’s recovery has been painfully slow. The nurses often find him in the garden, talking to himself. He’s also been having several attacks lately, but not as bad as the one he had earlier,” she said dejectedly.
Kirstie almost wanted to cry, her heart going out to her friend. “He must have known. Or remembered one way or another. Today is the anniversary of Mitch’s death.”
“I figured that must have been one of the reasons why. Anyway, it’s better for him to rest and not see visitors for the time being. I hope you understand,” the doctor said.
“We understand. We’ll come back some other time. We just want him to be okay,” Alex said.
“I know you do. Maybe try to call next time? So that you don’t waste a trip coming here,” Dr. Hart suggested.
“We will. Thank you.” With that Kirstie and Alex left and headed to the cemetery.
*****
Marina shook her head when she found the letter. She’d always been assigned to clean up Scott’s room, and today was just like the rest.
She folded it neatly and put it inside the drawer, along with the many other letters she knew the intended recipient would never get.
-- evekatalbas
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