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Aaron’s hand traced the railing of the bridge, slowly.
It was a relaxing feeling, the coldness of the railing meeting his hands that were being kept warm by his gloves.
He sighed and leaned over the railing, the snow falling around him. He looked down at the plastic bag on his arm as it hit the railing. “Hm…”
Aaron leaned his head on his hands.
He shouldn’t be here. As soon as his dad finds out he left his dorm for something other than class, he was gonna be in terrible trouble.
But… That didn’t really matter to him.
In fact, he wasn’t quite sure he’d be around to see that punishment.
He didn’t know what to do anymore, everything was an absolute mess. His dad had taken the one person he cared about away from him, he couldn’t leave his dorm to do ANYTHING, and his eyes weren’t getting any better… In fact, they were getting worse.
That meant that change was not coming anytime soon.
Besides, even if he could control his eyes… He doubts he’d ever be able to live his own life. His dad would make him work for the company and probably still limit his social circle. It was like he wanted him to be just like him.
That serious, strict man who’s ALWAYS worried about something. He knew his curse was bad, but was it really worth all this? Why was he alive if he was just meant to suffer?
That's why he came to the bridge… to… “celebrate.”
December 17th… His eighteenth birthday.
At least he lived to see adulthood, right?
Aaron stood up straight and stopped leaning on the railing. He reached into the plastic bag and pulled out a plastic box with a vanilla cupcake in it. He also pulled on a candle and placed it on top of the cupcake.
He sat down on the floor and placed his cupcake in front of him. He grabbed a pocket lighter and lit the candle.
He chuckled, with his eyes a bit teary.
“Happy birthday to me…”
He blew out his candle and took it out before biting into the cupcake.
The cake and icing were sweet… A feeling that he was destined to not have in his life.
As he finished the cake, he stood up and walked to the trash can. He threw the bag and all the cupcake stuff away.
Aaron walked back to railing and leaned over it again. He began to think… Think about his life… How it got this way.
He had never done anything to deserve ANY of this! All he did was be born with a curse… And to a family that refused to listen.
A family that refused to be there for him.
A family that thought money was more valuable than family time.
A family that didn’t even have the decency to say happy birthday.
A family that didn’t deserve him.
Aaron gripped the railing.
That’s why he’s doing this.
Maybe if he died… They’d realize their mistakes… They’d be hurt…
…
…Maybe they’d finally care about him.
Aaron’s hand began to shake and a chill ran down his spine, but it wasn’t from the cold. As he looked down below, he found his plan much harder to carry out.
This was scary…
Then… He thought about her.
Not Aphmau… He had no way to contact her… She probably thought he was ignoring her… So she had no way of knowing… Of being hurt…
But… Melissa did.
His older sister, the only one he considered to be his family anymore.
She had always been there for him… Essentially raising him, even if she was just a child herself.
She had grown more and more like their parents as of late, and she had always been a big defender of them but… She always cared for him nonetheless.
He still remembered the time she tried to reason with their dad. It didn’t work, but she tried.
She cared…
She always had…
She always will…
He couldn’t do this to her…
Aaron pushed off the railing and turned away, beginning to walk back towards his dorm room.
He would be in big trouble when he got back but…
If it saved Melissa the pain… It was worth it.
Aaron walked back to his dorm and stopped when he saw Melissa at his door.
She turned to him.
“There you are! I thought you weren’t supposed to leave! You’re going to get in trouble!” Melissa scolded him as she pulled him into a hug. “Happy Birthday, you dork.”
Aaron’s eyes began to tear up as she hugged him, he hugged her back… Very tight.
He began to sob.
“Woah… Calm down…” Melissa said as she patted his back. “I just came to say happy birthday and drop off your present…”
Aaron sniffled. “I get that but…” he hurried his head into her shoulder. “I’m just so happy you’re here… You’re with me.”
Melissa chuckled and hugged him tighter.
“I’m always with you…”
The two pulled apart and Aaron tried to wipe his tears but he just kept sobbing. Melissa gave him a sympathetic smile.
“Okay, okay you big baby…” Melissa rubbed his arm to try and comfort him. “Do you want me to stay for a bit?”
Aaron nodded.
“Okay then…” Melissa smiled.
Aaron hugged her one last time with a big squeeze.
“I love you Melly…”
Melissa was a little caught off guard but the sudden hug… Especially since he rarely called her Melly seriously anymore. She shook the name as a kid and he usually only did it to tease.
Melissa’s eyes softened.
“I love you too, Rin…”
Melissa pulled back and smiled at him.
“Now come on, let’s head inside, huh?”
Aaron nodded and wiped his face.
“Y-yeah… Let’s.”