Champagne

The Best Years of My Life

Mr. L yawned, taking a look at the clock on the wall, before stretching and getting up out of bed. The sun would be rising in about thirty minutes. He quickly brushed his teeth and got dressed, before taking one last look at it all.

It was hard to believe that he spent ten years here. Most of his life had been spent in this place. He was going to miss it, to tell himself the truth. He'd miss Oliver's funny remarks, he'd miss the opening and closing the shop, everything. But you gotta move on.

He grabs everything he needs, then steps outside, closing the door for the last time, locking up the shop.

- Future -

Mr. L looks down at the young girl in the sky they're standing on. She offers a beautiful little smile. 

He smiles back at her, and, for a moment, he looks out behind her, imagining Oliver, Timpani, Blumiere, and Dimentio all standing there.

"Dad... are you alright?" She asks as Mr. L looks out behind her with a longing expression.

"Yeah..." He breaths. "I think... no, I know, that it's the people who I surrounded myself with who made my life so worthwhile," He sighs. "But, as I said. You gotta move on. Who's gonna miss you when you're gone?"  

"Do you regret it? Your choice?" She questions.

He pauses, before smiling and letting out a breath.

"No. I don't. But still, when it's all done, you can't help but wonder what you're leaving behind. What you're giving up to get to where you're going. What you're passing by. Most of all, I knew I'd miss the smiles on their faces when I saw everyone in the morning, giving them their cups of coffee."

- Present -

He smiles and closes his eyes. The hydrants are open... cool breezes blow...

He lets out a content sigh as the morning approaches.

The hydrants are open... cool breezes blow...

It's a good morning.

He opens his eyes and smiles. It won't be long now!

"Hey," Dimentio's voice calls from behind him, causing him to jump a little.

"Dimentio?" Mr. L questions, when the jester holds out his hand.

"You got a minute?" Dimentio asks, an almost desperate look in his eyes.

Mr. L pauses, looking at the sky, then back at Dimentio. "Um, yeah... "

"Then follow me," Dimentio says, grabbing L's arm and pulling him through town.

Mr. L, though confused, enjoys walking past everything one last time, taking it all in. When he first came here, he thought it was gross and ugly, but now, he didn't see as many flaws. He didn't hear as many fights. It almost felt like a new town.

"Where are we going?" Mr. L asks when Dimentio shushes him. 

"You'll see."

He brings him up to his house and lets him in, before turning and smiling. "I need you to close your eyes.

"My eyes?" Mr. L questions. "Why?"

"Just do it," Dimentio pleads. Mr. L smiles a confused smile, raising an eyebrow, before obeying and shutting them.

Dimentio smiles then grabs his hands and leads the man in green up to the roof, where the sun is just starting to rise. "Alright, don't look until I tell you," Dimentio whispers, letting go and taking a few steps back, so he's standing in front of the sunrise.