In Another Life

In theory, stepping off the edge is an easy thing to achieve. Think about it. One wrong move, and you’ll be tumbling down. 

Aren has been nothing but amazing in all our years of knowing each other, and yet, here I am, at a bridge, about to end everything. He had made my life complete. Now with him gone, I can’t continue without him. Everything we used to do together now only brings pain. I was so in love with him. And now he’s gone.

When I first heard the news of him being in critical condition from a car accident, I was devastated. I had immediately rushed to the hospital that I was told he was at by his parents, and yet, I was told by the receptionist that there was no one by the name of Aren Black there.

For weeks, I could barely do anything. I felt like I was living in a shell in my own body. No emotions, nothing. It was too hard to survive without my love. And stepping off the ledge is the only way to stop it. Too long have I been left alone. Too long have I been forced to bear this pain alone. I need to end it. I need to. I feel like I’m going crazy, the longer I stay. I take a step off the ledge, and – I’m suddenly on the ground. 

“TATE! STOP!” 

The ghost of Aren held me tightly, not letting me move on the ground. 

“Go away! You’re not real!” I started hitting him, pushing him, anything to get this vision to go away. He only held onto me harder. “Get out of my head!”

“If I was dead, I wouldn’t be here, right? I’m not gone yet,” he sounded so sad. 

I looked up, and saw that tears were running down his cheeks. I cried harder.

He gave me a sad smile, “I told you I wasn’t dead.”

“How are you here? Your parents told me you were dead.” I cried into his shoulder, while he held me.

“I’m not, and you’re fine. We can work through this. I’m sorry all of this had to happen to you. But now, can you please calm down? I’m sorry I left you. They deliberately told you the wrong hospital because they didn’t want us to be together. You know how they are.They didn’t want a gay son. I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you.” he started crying too. It broke my heart more.

“I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to act this way, I just don’t want to lose you. You mean so much to me,” I sniffled, and hugged him.

I felt his hand rubbing my back, “Tate, my love, we’ll get through this together.” He gently asked me. Always the savior, but never the saved.

I silently nodded, crying harder. He helped me up, and hugged me again. I hugged him back, and cried into his arms, and everything went black.