This is one of two epilogues to Squib_Drip's 'Let Go.' I recommend it fully and completely to the TwoSetViolin fans, and follow them! In this timeline, after Brett dies, Eddy decides to pursue his dreams for himself and Brett, and his determination and ambition help him achieve his goal. But something was missing from that huge stage and the crowd of fans that loved him...

Update : THIS IS A REWRITE! Completed and revised as the final draft on 1 / 6 / 2025. 'Let Go' is no longer available to my knowledge.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ.

Eddy Chen heard the booming applause on the stage and smelled the essences of florals and herbs as flowers were thrown onstage. Roses, daisies, lavender, and tulips. He looked to his right as if to look at Brett happily... but the shorter male that he once knew so well... wasn't there. In his joy and forgotten grief, he had momentarily forgotten that Brett was no longer in the world... no longer with him. It pained him. He wanted to celebrate the moment with him, but... that was a lost cause, hoping for someone who was no longer there to come, to be met with defeat and disappointment Eddy knew far too well, had been met with far too many times. That smile that was previously unable to be wiped off... was gone.

Ever since Brett's demise, Eddy found himself grieving and in the depths of the hole of self-hate and loss. He couldn't help but think had he not tried to see Brett in that heavy and pouring rain, should've just stayed where he was, on that god-awful bench. If he had not failed to do what a mature person would've done, he wouldn't have needed heart surgery... wouldn't have needed Brett's heart to replace his own, which had nearly failed when he was hit by that car... wouldn't have needed to kill Brett, just so he could live in the shallow pool of guilt.

As he came back to reality, he realized everyone was watching to see what he would do next. 'Bow, just bow.' Eddy chided to himself, involuntarily reminding himself as the stage waited for his exit from his exquisite performance, the eyes filled with joy and undying excitement from the beginning of his concert. He bowed yet again, and another round of applause ran up as Eddy swiftly turned and went backstage to put his violin away in its respective case. As he closed it and picked it up by the back strap, he felt a sudden cold breeze... he had been experiencing this for quite a while, especially within the first year since Brett's demise. He has always suspected it was Brett, but his denial, grief, and stubbornness told him it was only his imagination and desperation for his best friend back.

Directly after these occurrences, he was very concerned about his feelings; he had asked others if they felt them, too. They didn't, and sometimes, people even looked at him weirdly, normally in disdain. He was starting to wonder if he needed to reach out to a therapist or a doctor to discuss his feelings, but they might laugh it off as well, telling him it was all in his head and he didn't need to worry. But he felt he did need to worry.

With a violin case on his back, he stepped out of the building, the natural cool breeze hitting his face like an invitation. He was due to meet his friends for lunch in about an hour. Eddy decided to go back to his temporary apartment to wind down before returning for the meet-up.

The drive back to his temporary apartment was quiet and awkward. He stared at the passenger seat; Brett would've sat there if he was alive. He didn't hear anything else on the outside world, and it was as if his body was on autopilot, driving his car, not crashing, somehow...

He soon became attentive to his surroundings as he saw the parking lot for the local apartment drive. He parked in the nearest spot and as he walked home, he barely heard his footsteps as he thought about Brett. Brett. The very name haunted him to this very day. Why was he so stupid that day, to cross that damned road... he should've waited, should've gotten himself help...

The sound of the door opening barely escaped his ears as he dropped off his violin case on the couch in the living room and went up to the apartment's tight-knit bedroom. He collapsed onto the bed, his arms sore. The comfort of the mattress did little to ease his discomfort. As he stared at the ceiling, something outside his window caught his eye... until it disappeared. He blinked, thinking he was hallucinating.

He sat up swiftly, his eyes displaying a hint of paranoia and fear. His night traumas, this was the reason he always woke up at night, scared out of his wits. There he saw a certain figure, albeit transparent. Something in the figure's eyes showed no regret; was that who he thought it was... again? Eddy, as if on autopilot, reached out; the figure disappeared before him before he could. Disappointed, he retracted his hand before laying down and taking a small nap, his pillow a comfort in this harsh reality.

He was woken up by the sounds of the birds chirping, and annoyingly, his alarm, signaling that it was time for the meet-up. He begrudgingly got up, muttering about how annoying this was. Before he knew it, he was out the door and in his car. The road screeching with tires against it was all Eddy could hear from his open window. The parking lot approached as he angled his car to fit the small lines he was given as the bold lines of a restaurant stood out to him. He took his time walking to the restaurant.

Going into the restaurant, he noticed it was one of those fancy types. Going in further, he was met by his fellow soloist Ray Chen, who smiled at him as they met eyes. They started to converse about their recent performances. Eddy was internally asking himself whether to tell Ray about what he saw earlier in his apartment. He decided against it; would Ray be supportive enough to hold this secret with him? He couldn't know.

The rest of their friends were already seated as they greeted Eddy and Ray with smiles and waves. Eddy felt his heart flutter and sink at the same time; he didn't deserve this. Not in the least did he deserve any of this. He sat down at the chair awaiting his presence. Menus came and waters clinked, but all that was on Eddy's mind was the occurrence that happened earlier today. He couldn't lie though, the food was delicious. 

Multiple times he was asked questions. They seemed to sense something was off today, and he didn't blame them in the least. Anyone with keen senses, hell, even basic sensory, would know something was off about his usually fun attitude. They had grown to accept he had become different from what he used to be with Brett. That didn't mean they wanted Eddy to live like that. They couldn't do much, though. Brett was dead; they couldn't revive him, despite how much they wanted the innocent boy to come back.

Eddy felt empty most of the day out. After he bid his friends farewell and they all departed for their individual places, he went back home. He curled up under his covers and cried himself to sleep. He wanted Brett so bad. He made the mistake. And he wasn't getting him back. This was a punishment. All of this. 

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ.

Thank you for reading this chapter! There is a second chapter posted called "If I Had Followed My Dreams Back Then, Would Things Be Different?" being rewritten like this one. Thank you for your support on this chapter, and I hope to see you on the second one!

- Evelyn / Ari! ᝰ.ᐟ