08-04-2021, 08:00 PM
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As the weeks began to pass by, the soul-crushing ache remained. Vernon dreamt about him all the time because when he was asleep, it was the closest thing to Mickey that he could get. To relive all of those memories again as if he were still by his side but, as he’d wake up the next morning, the other side of the bed remained cold. He envied his dreams, in fact. His dreams could just turn the pages back and time could rewind just for a moment. It felt so real when he was asleep. He couldn’t be afforded the same thing in real life, else perhaps maybe then he would have had the chance to say goodbye.
Every time he’d part his lips in preparation to speak, nothing could come out because his life had started and ended with a man he’d never see again. Vernon no longer spoke of his name, not even to Arlo, as if it were easier to pretend that he had never been such an integral part of their story. Perhaps some could even wonder whether Green even cared about his passing at all, as if he lingered in a permanent denial. But it consumed him. It did. Every thought and feeling, every memory of their midnight strolls down the promenade, or how they’d lay down a blanket on the private beach as Green would teach Mick each constellation in the night sky. Perhaps that was where Mick was now. Stardust. If that were the case, then Green would remain envious of the stars because they could be with him and Green could not.
Life went on without him, though. Of course it did. Green knew death like the back of his hand. Death was forever an ending, but never the end.
Arlo hadn’t uttered a word since Green had sat him down that fateful morning, and there was no sign of improvement even now. Instead, avoidant eyes darted towards Vernon for reassurance, and slouched shoulders made him seem even smaller than ever before. It was as if Arlo was preparing for his life to fall apart all over again. Vern knew exactly how he felt, and sympathised greatly. Losing a parent was not at all easy and, in Arlo’s case, he was merely anticipating that soon he’d lose Greenie, too. It was what happened to kids like Arlo, in the same way it had happened to Green in his youth. Family never lasted, and so it paid to be wary.
Green would insist that nothing could ever possibly happen to him, but how could he be too sure? Especially with his next plans — perhaps too reckless for a man with as much nerve as Green — he wasn’t promised another tomorrow. Nobody was. But, what Green had to do next, for the benefit of his people, was a risk he had to take for the greater good. He was their Guardian and he’d act as such. Guardian angel to many but, too Green, he was just Greenie. It was what he did — help people when they needed it.
In preparation for his next grand plan, Green would allow himself some downtime to rest and relax before the big day. In order to put his mind off of the nerves of his imminent journey, as well as distract him from his grief, Green plastered a smile on his face as he brushed the sand off of his hands and took a step back to admire their work. A volleyball net was erected for an afternoon of games, as well as a couple of foldable beach chairs and drinks cooler nearby for Northerners to hang out together. Arlo sat at one of these chairs, leg bouncing as he sipped quietly as a juice.
❝ So who’s up for a game of volleyball? ❞ Green questioned with a softening smile, picking up the volleyball nearby before messing around with it as he waited for people to organise teams for the game. When people were ready, Green teased playfully, ❝ I hope you’re ready to lose, by the way. ❞ before he served the ball over the net to begin the game.
As the weeks began to pass by, the soul-crushing ache remained. Vernon dreamt about him all the time because when he was asleep, it was the closest thing to Mickey that he could get. To relive all of those memories again as if he were still by his side but, as he’d wake up the next morning, the other side of the bed remained cold. He envied his dreams, in fact. His dreams could just turn the pages back and time could rewind just for a moment. It felt so real when he was asleep. He couldn’t be afforded the same thing in real life, else perhaps maybe then he would have had the chance to say goodbye.
Every time he’d part his lips in preparation to speak, nothing could come out because his life had started and ended with a man he’d never see again. Vernon no longer spoke of his name, not even to Arlo, as if it were easier to pretend that he had never been such an integral part of their story. Perhaps some could even wonder whether Green even cared about his passing at all, as if he lingered in a permanent denial. But it consumed him. It did. Every thought and feeling, every memory of their midnight strolls down the promenade, or how they’d lay down a blanket on the private beach as Green would teach Mick each constellation in the night sky. Perhaps that was where Mick was now. Stardust. If that were the case, then Green would remain envious of the stars because they could be with him and Green could not.
Life went on without him, though. Of course it did. Green knew death like the back of his hand. Death was forever an ending, but never the end.
Arlo hadn’t uttered a word since Green had sat him down that fateful morning, and there was no sign of improvement even now. Instead, avoidant eyes darted towards Vernon for reassurance, and slouched shoulders made him seem even smaller than ever before. It was as if Arlo was preparing for his life to fall apart all over again. Vern knew exactly how he felt, and sympathised greatly. Losing a parent was not at all easy and, in Arlo’s case, he was merely anticipating that soon he’d lose Greenie, too. It was what happened to kids like Arlo, in the same way it had happened to Green in his youth. Family never lasted, and so it paid to be wary.
Green would insist that nothing could ever possibly happen to him, but how could he be too sure? Especially with his next plans — perhaps too reckless for a man with as much nerve as Green — he wasn’t promised another tomorrow. Nobody was. But, what Green had to do next, for the benefit of his people, was a risk he had to take for the greater good. He was their Guardian and he’d act as such. Guardian angel to many but, too Green, he was just Greenie. It was what he did — help people when they needed it.
In preparation for his next grand plan, Green would allow himself some downtime to rest and relax before the big day. In order to put his mind off of the nerves of his imminent journey, as well as distract him from his grief, Green plastered a smile on his face as he brushed the sand off of his hands and took a step back to admire their work. A volleyball net was erected for an afternoon of games, as well as a couple of foldable beach chairs and drinks cooler nearby for Northerners to hang out together. Arlo sat at one of these chairs, leg bouncing as he sipped quietly as a juice.
❝ So who’s up for a game of volleyball? ❞ Green questioned with a softening smile, picking up the volleyball nearby before messing around with it as he waited for people to organise teams for the game. When people were ready, Green teased playfully, ❝ I hope you’re ready to lose, by the way. ❞ before he served the ball over the net to begin the game.
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I'LL EAT UP ALL YOUR PAIN, TAKE IN ALL THE BLAME
[div style="width: 400px; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 1; letter-spacing: 4.2px; word-spacing: 1.9px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]BE THAT SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN TO — NOTES.
[div style="width: 400px; font-family: georgia; text-align: center; font-size: 5pt; line-height: 1; letter-spacing: 4.2px; word-spacing: 1.9px; margin-bottom: 5px;"]BE THAT SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN TO — NOTES.