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Two kids sit on the rocks, their feet dangle just high enough that the spray of the ocean is nothing more than mist.
“I just don’t get why you only come out here in the summer,” one says, tossing a loose stone into the rolling waves. “It’s not that far a drive.”
“I have school to worry about Wilbur.” The other glances away, tugging a hand through his rose coloured curls. They look more like hibiscus in the fading sun.
“I know, I just- I wish I got to see you more, is all.”
There’s a silence that hangs a little too heavy for comfort.
The golden sky keeps darkening, looking more and more like a fire across the clouds.
The wind rustles through the trees. It’s fresher than the city. Maybe if he breathes enough of it in he will feel as alive as it sounds.
“I get why you came here though,” Techno says after a while, “It’s nice.”
“Why don’t you stay then?” The desperation behind the words is embarrassingly obvious. Techno frowns and looks away.
“You know I can’t Wil, not with everyone back home, I can’t just leave.” Not like you did.
The unsaid words don’t go unnoticed, Wilbur glancing away this time, fists tightening.
“I didn’t- I didn’t mean to leave everybody behind.” His voice is sharper than he means it to be. “It was just-“
“The city was killing you.” His friend says, he doesn’t think about the words until they’re already out.
Wilbur stares for a moment, it’s too close to that topic they never acknowledge. The one that makes his throat tighten like a noose wound around his neck.
“Yeah”
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t- I shouldn’t have-”
“How is everyone.” He cuts him off before he can spiral, blurting out the first thing he comes up with. His friend looks surprised.
“They’re good, Niki’s doing well.”
Wilbur’s stomach twists a bit at the name. His best-friend, now just a roommate he hears about every few months.
“And Tommy?”
“He’s still the same.” He smiles, a fondness in his eyes Wilbur has never seen for anyone else.
“I’ll have to come see them sometime.” More words spoken without thinking, he regrets them instantly. Techno doesn’t manage to hide the shock in his eyes. “I mean, I doubt they want to see me but maybe I could-“
“We’d love to have you.”
Wilbur blinks, something bubbling in his gut.
“Oh.”
Maybe he’s closer to being alive than he’d thought.