I laid there, my body curled over itself wrenched between the sheets. You would usually be there, Rich. When the nightmares came you would be there, but now you’re gone. You went to who knows where, probably somewhere better for you. Hopefully, somewhere better for you, but why would you ever want to leave us? The Losers Club, had you forgotten the blood oath? For God’s sake Richard! You should be here right now… You shouldn’t be gone. You can’t be gone. The nightmares came again and now all I can do is lay here. My aspirator clasped between my clammy fingers, shaking. Shaking like a leaf beginning to fall off a tree. It’s been 3 years...3 whole years. I can remember the night you left...I remember it almost too well. You had somehow clambered up onto my roof and pounded on the window. I was wide awake, so there really was no need for this, but you are the infamous Trashmouth. I opened up my window and stared at you, grinning. “Hey there Romeo.” I greet you. “Juliet.” You bow, grinning just as wide as I. “What is it now? Did your dad hit you again?” “No, I just wanted to see you Eds.” The light coming from my room illuminated your features, ones I knew all too well. Those cherry stained lips, lips I would learn that would fit perfectly against mine. Your dark brown eyes that always lit up a certain way when you got excited. Freckles that somehow looked perfect against your milky skin. I hated my own freckles, but I would spend my whole life counting, and re-counting your dotted cheeks. “You sure?” I protrude, to which you just nod. This was satisfactory to me, but I should have protested. I should have asked you more questions, like my usual stubborn self. Deep, deep, deep down in my gut I could tell something was wrong. You kept doing your Voices, practicing. Trying to make me laugh, but I was too selfish to note that something was wrong. The both of us were sitting cross legged on my roof, staring up at the stars. Our breaths were coming out in ghostly white puffs, lightening the dark sky just a tinge. Your face looked even more pale than usual, seemingly translucent against the moonlight. I turned to look at you, though you still had your eyes fixated on the sky I could tell that you knew I was looking at you. “Rich.” You finally look at me. “Let me see your hands.” “Eddie-” “Richie Tozier.” You huff at a loss and finally heave your heavy hands into mine. I run my fingers over the white scars, which twist around your knuckles. I next inspected your palms and touched them softly too, I found no new scars. Which, I was satisfied with, once again. I roll up the sleeve of you Hawaiin tee and begin to trace the scars there as well. Also, the newly formed bruise. It was beginning to yellow in only certain places, indicating it was on it’s path to better health. We had only been inches away from each other. Your breath was hot against mine, my heart was beating through the protective rib cage around it. Your finger grappled under my chin, forcing me to look up at your soft eyes. “Can I kiss you?”42Please respect copyright.PENANAV17XQAO8Rd