MIKE POV-

---- 1 month later: 2:12 PM ----

Mike sat in the hospital vowing never to leave the brunette's side; it had been 30 days since the attack and Will was... Well, he was alive. He was barely breathing with wires and pipes plugged into him. He was in a coma; it was unclear to all of them if he would ever wake up. It was glad they got him when they did; his breathing stopped for a few minutes and the paramedic at the scene almost pronounced him dead.

The days turned into weeks, and the thoughts of the day still lingered in his head. He remembered after the paramedics took the brunette, laying him on a stretcher, attempting to stabilise the small boy as Mike stepped back, his eyes never left Will's face.

He followed the paramedics to the hospital. but he was turned away at the doors; they said they needed to do urgent surgery.

If it was just the strangulation, he would have woken up by now, but the blunt force trauma, combined with Billy's punches led to fatal consequences. When the muscular man punched the brunette in the chest, a piece of bone from his ribs broke off like shrapnel piercing his lungs, causing internal bleeding.

One small piece, smaller than a bullet caused irreparable damage. The ravenette was lost, all his tears could fill a swimming pool. He would go home for the past days and just sit in Will's room; at first, he tried to stay at Lucas and Dustin's to keep him company, but he couldn't do it; eventually going back to his own apartment.

His gaze shuffled to Will's face. It had been an agonising month since the incident that had left Will in the coma, Mike's heart ached with longing and worry. He gently held the brunette's hand, finding solace in their physical connection.

Memories of the past flooded his mind, like snapshots of their happiness etched into his heart. He recalled their first date and their one-year anniversary; the ravenette played with the promise ring on his finger. It was as though the whole world was merely a tapestry woven for their love.

He spoke of movies; recounting silly times from their past. The times that danced together under the moon and blasted music from the top of their balcony. The moments of vulnerability, the times they embraced one another and their first kiss...

He thought all about the nights they stayed up together talking till the early hours of the day; their conversations spanning the depth of their dreams, fears and inspirations. They shared hopes and dreams they held close to their heart. In these moments the ravenette found the hope and strength to continue and wish his boyfriend would awake.

As the days passed and the sleepless nights continued, so did his repeated cycle of waiting and still his heart never waved in his love. He knew the journey would be difficult, but he was willing to stand by the brunette's side no matter how long he needed to.

The beeping monitors and sterile smells did nothing but add to Mike's anxiety. Johnathan and Joyce provided comfort to the tall boy the whole way; they knew how he would be feeling. They sat on the opposite side of him, quietly listening as they stayed at the foot of Will's bed.

With unwavering determination, the ravenette sat, a beacon of love and hope in the darkness. He whispered promises; promising to sit forever through every triumph and setback, believing that one day, they would resume their beautiful journey together.

---- 8:11 PM ----

As the visiting hours came to a close, Mike's heart sank knowing he needed to leave Will's side. Reluctantly, he whispered to the brunette, "Hey Will... I'm coming back tomorrow, okay?" softly he kissed the small boy's hand, gently placing the arm back down. Each time he spoke he wished for an answer that would never come.

He got up, sulking out the room and to his car, Joyce and Johnathan currently were being housed by Robin and Steve who accepted the pair into their house with open arms.

His head remained empty, the whole drive home provided no solace for him, the song on the radio changed... it was 'Every Breath you Take'. Mike tightened his grip on the steering wheel, worried he might cry during the song; it reminded him of his boyfriend. The fear that Will might not wake up played on his mind.

Approaching his apartment parking lot at long last, he shut the music, feeling a mix of sadness and exhaustion. He rested his head on the steering wheel, wanting a few minutes in silence, but a knock on the window of his car alerted him; obviously he couldn't have peace.

He looked up at the sound seeing... Erica? Immediately, he rolled down the window allowing her to talk; it seemed as though she had been waiting for a while. She had a sullen look on her face; almost as though she had lost the spunk she once had. The youthful girl blamed herself for leaving Will alone on that fateful day and not interjecting sooner; she carried that burden on her shoulders.

Her eyes were gentle, filled with compassion and care. She held out a small envelope, gently placing it in Mike's hands, "Will... Will asked me to give it to you." She said softly before stepping away back to her own apartment without saying anything further.

Curiosity piqued in the tall boy as he curiously unwrapped the envelope. Inside he found a letter, penned by his beloved. His heart raced with fear and anticipation, as he fully unfolded the paper; With a sigh he began...

Dear Mike,

I know this letter might come as a shock, because if you're reading this then I am probably dead or I'm basically at death's door. But don't worry, it's nothing to be sad about; you see, I thought that I should express my thoughts and emotions, to you, my boyfriend. This past year has been amazing, I've enjoyed it more than any other year of my life.

Reflecting on the past always brings me pain; there are memories that still hurt me. You would sometimes ask me about my ex, and I never say anything; it's not because I was keeping secrets, it's that I was scared that if I told you, you'd think I came with too much baggage and leave me. I didn't want that! But now that I'm dead, I don't have to worry about that anymore!

My Ex was a bad person, his name was Billy, and if you're reading this letter, it means he won. He would get angry over anything I did and never let me leave the house and if he got too angry, he would get violent. That's why I was terrified of accepting your confession when you first asked; it wasn't that I didn't like you, I was just scared.

But being with you was the best thing I have ever done, you showed me how to feel like I was worth giving romance another try; you were the only beacon in my life. Your unwavering support and care have touched my heart in ways I can't express. I'm grateful that you were in my life no matter how short it was. You showed me I was worthy of love, and you gave me the courage to move on and I can't thank you enough.

There's something I want to share with you, something I've kept secret for a while. You may think I'm such a pacifist and that I can't hurt a fly but... there is another side of me. I didn't tell you because I wanted to keep you safe and honestly, I was petrified of how you'd react. The truth is, the murders that have been occurring, it's me; all me. I'm sorry I'm not the boy you thought I was, but I couldn't keep it from you for any longer. I wanted to get rid of all the bad people and that's how I died; I wanted to kill Billy for how he hurt me and my friend; it just turned out he got to me first. 

And before I forget, there's something else I've been holding onto, a surprise I planned for your upcoming birthday. Obviously, because I am dead, I won't be able to give it, so I don't want to wait any longer. Mike, I want you to go to my room and find the wrapped present, I've left a note with it, so you'll know which one, and open it; it's yours! I worked really, really hard on it and I wish I could see the look on your face.

And wherever my body lay, I want you to move on with your life; I want you to still have hope for the future. Stay strong for me! Keep believing in love, and in yourself, because you can do whatever you put your mind to, and I am so very proud of you! I wish I could open my eyes, kiss your cheeks, feel your touch and hear your voice again but I can't... but I'm happy I got the chance while I was able to.

I want you to know that I will always love you.

Forever yours,

Your Teacup 

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1444 Words

Stay Safe <3