Lover| IT

Ending 2, part 1

Ending two is a lot longer than one

S.U

It's a typical night in the Uris household. I'm sat doing a puzzle whilst my amazing wife is debating on wether we should go on vacation or not. I want to. It'd be fun.

"Should I just book it?" Patty asks as I do my puzzle, glasses on my face. She's wearing her glasses as she reads the laptop screen." Are you sure you can get away from work?"

"It's summer, why not?" I reply with a smile.

"Okay, we are Buenos Aires-bound." Patty cheers and I grin at how happy she sounds. There's a bright side to not having kids. We can afford this shit. But...I'd rather have a child than a vacation.

There's a piece of my puzzle missing. I sigh and spot it under the coffee table, so I bend down, placing my glasses in my breast pocket, and I grab the puzzle piece with furrowed brows. Just as I sit up, my phone buzzes. I glance at Patty, who is smiling at her laptop screen, looking as gorgeous as ever. I smile and pick up my phone, pressing answer and pushing it to my ear.

"Stanley Uris speaking." I say with a happy tone of voice.

"It's Mike."

"I'm sorry?" I question and I'm filled with instant dread. My palms are sweaty.

"Mike Hanlon...from Derry."

I sit in silence for a second, just thinking. I vaguely remember and then it all comes flooding back. All of it. That summer, fighting Pennywise...the college years. Every single bit.

"Mike...God. Sorry. Yes. Hi...I didn't- I don't know why I didn't um...how longs it been?" I ask, filled with fear and stuttering my words. I chuckle nervously. Patty glances at me.

"A long time....27 years."

I stand up, shaking all over. I cannot do this. I can't go back. I...I'm not strong enough. I'm forty now...not 13. These things have plagued my dreams for years! Pennywise has plagued my dreams.

"IT's come back, hasn't it?" I mumble, voice tearful, praying Patty can't hear my distress. I don't want her to worry." That's why you're calling?"

"It's starting again, Stan. Bad things are happening."

"Did you uh...did you call the others?" I ask. I wouldn't expect Richie to come. Nor Eddie." I mean...I don't- what if...what if they don't come, I mean...

"We made a promise! Remember?"

How could I forget? There's a sharp pain in my hand and face. The scars are back. My facial ones from Judith and the one on my palm due to the blood oath.

"How soon can you get here?"

"Um-well, I,uh...I would need to do a few things...first-" I begin.

"Tomorrow? We don't have much time."

I close my eyes. Willing not to cry. I'm so scared and filled with anxiety and dread. I can't do this again!

"I'll text you everything you need. See you soon, Stan the Man."

Oh, Mikey. You won't and I am so so sorry I couldn't be stronger. The line goes dead and I place my phone down on the coffee table with a blank expression on my face.

"Who was it?" Patty asks and I jump slightly. I shuffle over to her.

"No one important." I lie and I hate lying to her." You know I love you, don't you?"

"Of course I do!" She chuckles. I nod solemnly." Stanny, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing, baby-love. I'm fine. I'm just...gonna have a bath." I state and she furrows her brows, looking at me, highly confused.