30 Day Challenge

Day 30

Day 30: Write a story titled “We Say Goodbye In Circles.”

Why don’t you just leave, Cameron?!”

“I am, Spencer!” Cameron boomed. Spencer was frozen in his tracks, jaw dropped open. Cameron held back the tears that wanted to fall to say one last word. “Goodbye.” He spat.

And with that, he turned around, never to be with Spencer again.

~~****~~

Cameron was happy now, but it took him awhile to get there.

He thought it’d be easy. Just don’t think about him, and it would be okay.

Cameron would do well for awhile, not thinking about him one bit, but then something would serve as a reminder and Cameron’s heart would hurt for the rest of the day. And forget trying to say his name. He wouldn’t even let his mother say it. It became a taboo word in the Leahy household, as Cameron’s mom saw how much her son was hurting. She did everything she could to help him feel better, but sometimes Cameron wanted to be alone. And she understood that; she was in a similar state when Cameron’s father left her.

Cameron and his mom had moved in with his mom’s college roommate and her son, Matt, a month after the breakup. Cameron was tentative around Matt at first, not wanting to let anyone but his mother in about what happened, but at midnight one night when the boys were alone Cameron caved. Every time he had to say his name Cameron’s heart cracked, and Matt’s heart hurt for him.

But, believe it or not, it was what Cameron needed. When he wiped his tears and looked at Matt, he gave him a sincere thank you. And Matt gave Cameron a smile and assured him that he would always be there, and they hugged it out. As it turned out, they were both more exhausted than they thought, as when their moms came home they found their sons tangled up together on the couch.

And that was the start of Matt and Cameron’s relationship.

Eventually, Cameron was able to relive the nice memories with no pain, and even the sad ones didn’t hurt as much. He was able to say Spencer’s name again, but he didn’t have much need to. He had Matt now. He didn’t need to reminisce. He knew Spencer was gone, and he was happy where he was right then, with his new boyfriend, his mom, and Mrs. Webb (who now felt like Cameron’s mother as well).

Then they had to move again.

They were moving back to Cameron’s old town, and Mrs. Leahy tried to convince Cameron that he’d be able to see his old friends again, maybe show off Matt to them, but she was avoiding the elephant in the room and they both knew it. Going back to their old town meant going back to Spencer, no if’s and’s or but’s. But him and Matt had another late-night talk, and Matt seemed to make everything okay, as usual.

And so on their first day in the new school Cameron walked through his old classroom with his head held high, and saw Spencer in the corner of the room with another guy. But that was okay, because Cameron had a new boyfriend too. And he proudly held said boyfriend’s hand as they walked over to their seats. Cameron’s old teacher welcomed him back and welcomed Matt to the class, and that was that. Cameron sat with his old friends at lunch who were happy to have him back, and even happier (though they’d never admit it, for Cameron’s sake) that Spencer was replaced with a much nicer guy like Matt.

The whole experience reminded Cameron that yes, everything was temporary, and while it could be a scary thought, one could take a comforting lesson from it; enjoy what you have, as it might not last forever. And the bad times would always pass. The good things, the bad things, it was all temporary, and that was okay. Nothing was truly permanent.

Except for Matt and Cameron’s love, but that’s a story for another day.