Work Text:
William Gold, formerly known by many as Wilbur Soot was sat on his couch reading. A random book, something realistic fiction that he wasn't putting his full mind into, but he looks for something to do with his life. Shortly after "The Tragedy" as he likes to call it, he stopped posting on YouTube, stopped live streaming on Twitch, although he loved the job, it wasn't right. He couldn't do it anymore. Luckily, he had brought in a lot of money over, enough to still live comfortably in retirement, which he was now. He can't believe how fast his life went. It feels like yesterday he was starting retiring, although that was 52 years ago. He doesn't do much with his life anymore, opting to sit and read instead of fulfilling his life. He was never the same after all.
He hears a ping from his phone. He looks over, its a notification from Google Calendar. He wonders if he has something important to do. He picks up his phone, and opens the app. "Tommy's Bad Haircut" October 27th, running all of the way from 2020, repeating year after year.
Wilbur hadn't thought about Tommy in a while. He tried to keep the obnoxious boy, whom he called his little brother for 7 years, out of his head as much as possible.
"Hello is this William Gold?"
"Yes, this is he?"
Wilbur didn't realize this call was going to be the start of the worst day of his life.
"You were listed as Tom Simmons' first emergency contact, after his parents. I regret to inform you that Tom has been in a car crash with his parents, and is currently in the hospital, his parents were killed on impact."
"You- What?"
"I'm really sorry about this sir, do you want to know the location of the hospital he is currently staying at?"
He didn't even get to the hospital, 4 hours away, in time, and by the time he came, Tommy didn't make it to see him again.
William knew Tommy for 7 years. Only 7 years. Out of his 82 that he was in now. No one, not even his wife, had been as close as him to Tommy. He knew the boy put on a loud childish persona, but off camera, he would get to see him grow up to be mature, and successful. Tommy's life was taken way to quick. Tommy deserved more, he deserved love, he deserved a whole life of success. To see his little brother be buried in a casket, next to his parents, when Tommy had so much more to give. So much more to take. So much more to show to the world.
Fucking 22. Died at fucking 22.
William sighed at the notification. He can remember exactly what happened that day, despite already decreasing memory. He can remember teasing the 16 year old about his haircut making him slightly insecure about his hairline. After stream, helping Tommy get his own private barber, so he could have a decent haircut to be the front of Twitch for. Will smiles at the memory, instead of crying this time. Choosing acceptance finally. He misses Tommy. He wishes Tommy could have been there with him to this vary moment, but it's finally time to move on.
William Gold falls asleep on the couch, book on the floor, phone in hand, open to the Calendar app.
He doesn't wake up.