The World Caves In - Byler

Epilogue: And I Feel Fine

3th POV || October 25th, 1988

The lights in the ceiling flickering as Mike rounded the corner seeing the sickly green looking door with "Ms. Kelley" written on the front

Mike knocked slightly before letting himself in

"Hi Mike."

"Hey Ms. Kelley." Mike said sitting down letting his backpack fall at his feet into a lump

"How was your break?"

"Fine.. hung out with friends.. some I haven't talked to in awhile, some I do everyday. I um went over to my Mom's house and slept over one night.."

"That's nice.. are the headaches better? And the nightmares and nosebleeds?"

"Yeah, a lot better.. still having some nightmares.. but they're better.."

"That's good."

"I started writing in my journal.. I only started the other day but.. it's helping, I think.." Mike said Ms. Kelley smiled

"I'm glad you started writing, I think it will help a lot in the long run."

"Hopefully.."

"How are your parents and sisters?"

"Fine.. Nancy called the other day, she's getting a story published in the Indystar so she's really excited.. Holly has been drawing a lot.. Mom is talking to a new guy named James.. Dad, he's kinda more involved.." Mike explained she nodded

"And your friends?"

"Good um.. Will works at the record store so I hang out there a lot after school.." Mike explained "I talked to Lucas and Dustin.. I hadn't done that in awhile.."

"I'm glad."

They talked for awhile more
Then Mike was set free from his therapy prison

Mike got into his car turning on the radio letting the Elton John tape play

Tune me in to the wild side of life
I'm an innocent young child sharp as a knife
Take me to the garretts where the artists have died
Show me the courtrooms where the judges have lied

He drove off
The sun going down even though it was only five
Gotta love Indiana in fall/winter

//June 26th, 1992\\

The clock was ticking as Mike sat at the kitchen table writing some barely coherent story on his computer half asleep from not sleeping the night before
Mike and Will had both been saving up for The IBM Personal Computer but last Christmas Will had gone ahead and bought it for him at $1,565 bucks
Mike was so surprised he barely said anything for ten minutes that morning and his saved up money ended up being the rent/groceries money

"Hey." Will said walking in and kissing his cheek Mike smiled

"Hey.. how was work?"

"Oh so fun, I love being a cashier." Will said making Mike chuckled as he sat down setting his cup of coffee down in front of him "what're you writing?"

"A story about a boy who has to fight monsters, but here's the plot twist, the monsters are a metaphor for gayness." Mike said Will straight up laughed not expecting that answer

"No one is gonna publish that."

"Sure they will, because they won't know it's gay but some kid who reads it can connect to the character that way.. if they're gay and need something to relate to.." Mike said with a shrugged
Will just smiled watching him

Mike's hair in a long ponytail and wearing Will's clothes talking like this.. Will thought he could die a happy man simply being able to live on the same planet as him..

"I love you." Will said Mike looked up and smiled

"I love you too." Mike said and then went on about the plot of his little gay monster story and Will loved every second of it

Later that night
Mike was letting the dog out into their closed in backyard while Will put up leftovers of their dinner before bed

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Mike asked walking back over to lean against the counter across from him

"Yeah.. yeah I'm ready.. I can't believe Jonathan is even coming into town  I mean, it's just a little stupid college art show." Will said Mike laughed softly

"Well I don't think it's stupid, I think you deserve it.. and I'm so proud of you." Mike said moving to kiss his cheek
Will smiled turning around to kiss him which Mike happily returned before they pulled away

"Thanks Mike.."

"Yeah.. I just can't you can make me wear nice clothes."

"I haven't seen you in anything besides band shirts and sweatpants since we graduated, I think you can wear a nice shirt and jeans for a couple hours." Will said Mike laughed softly

"Fair." Mike said kissing him again which Will returned before they pulled away
Mike moved to go get the dog
Will went back to putting stuff in baggies

Soon they were off to bed
Mike just fell into it while Will sat beside him

"Contacts." Will said Mike just groans getting up and going over to the mirror to take them out

Due to the bad eye sight that ran in the Wheeler family and Mike's own habit of trying to read late at night without turning on a light his eyes had gotten decently bad forcing him to wear glasses or contacts
He mostly went with contacts only wearing glasses occasionally and in the morning

Mike flopped back down as Will chuckled messing with his hair

"Night Mike.."

"G'night Will.." Mike muttered it sounded quiet and Will couldn't tell if it was because Mike was laying face down or because he was almost asleep

Will reached over turning off the light though one small one stayed on in the corner
They were both far too shaken up after their childhoods to have no light at all

And that's how it ends
Happy finally
No worries of monsters in the night
Nightmares were still common but now at least they had each other there with them
It was better now than it had been as kids and teenagers
They knew that much