Stay ~ (Reki x Langa)

꧁19꧂

I walk back down the street at sunset. The breeze is more chilly than it had been earlier. I think about him. I think about the night he died. I think about what we had. I think about how it won't happen ever again. He's gone.

Langa's mother pulls up to me "Hey sweetie, want a ride home? Don't want you catching a cold"

"Sure" I reply

I get in the car. It's small and blue. In the front she has an air freshener hanging from the rearview.

"I know it's been rough" she said out of nowhere

"Yeah. It's been hard for you too"

"Yeah." She started tearing up

"Tell me about him. You guys must have had amazing memories together" she sniffled

"Do you think we could take a detour? I want to show you something. It's about Langa"

"Of course"

After 10 minutes of awkward silence, we got to the park. We were walking through the trails and sharing stories.

"We used to sit on the roof of the hospital and watch the sun rise" I said "I loved the way his face lit up when he saw all of the colours fading into one"

She smiled

"We used to sneak into the cafeteria and get extra chocolate milk" then, I started feeling a lump in my throat "we used to watch cheesy rom coms and have picnics" I took a deep breath

"His favourite movie was-"

"The Notebook" we both said. She pulled me into a hug

"We turn up here and walk up the hill"

I lead her to the tree me and Langa used to climb.

"We used to sit here and watch the clouds go by" I sniffled "we'd spend hours in the tree" one tear rolled down my cheek "he used to roll around in the grass and make up random songs, he'd be himself up here" I broke down in tears. "But I'll never get it back"

She put her arm around me "it's gonna be okay. If you ever need anything, come to me"

"The endless nights in the hospital, stargazing, cloud chasing, climbing trees, joking around, holding hands, movie dates, picnics, staying up late, talking, being genuinely happy with our lives" i wiped my tears "but that's all gone now"

I fell to my knees. I cried. I didn't stop until she put her arm around me and quietly cried.

"Ms. Hasegawa, I really-"

"Please, call me Nanako" she interrupted

"Nanako, thank you so much for everything. I mean it."

"Don't even mention it sweetie" she said "it's unbelievable that there's someone who had these amazing memories with him and got to see the true side of Langa"

We walked back to the car. She dropped me home.

"Thank you"