Sturniolo Triplets - One Shots/Short Stories

One For All - M

Warnings: Depression, Feeling Lost, Implied Suicidal Thoughts

Matt feels stuck in life

A/N: Idk I was in a bad mood

The Story:

Sitting slouched forward on the edge of an old bridge, high above the abyss that stretched between two hilltops, Matt spent the last few hours alone in his sanctuary in the woods. He had found the old bridge on a less popular hiking trail a while back, and deeply enjoyed the scenery. Some time later, after his anxiety reached an all-time high, he took off from their home, and ended up finding his way back here. The place quickly became his go-to spot after that, and now Matt came here every time his thoughts got to loud and he needed everything to be quiet.

The old bridge was his retreat, a place where he could be alone, clear his head and feel at peace. He always sat on the edge, legs dangling above the seemingly endless abyss, a few hundred feet above ground. Matt knew that one unlucky move could cost him his life, but ironically enough, he never felt more alive, more real, than he did as he sat there.

As he gazed at the horizon, watching the sun disappear for the day, a profound sense of emptiness enveloped him. Today was just one of those days, when everything got too much, and he desperately needed to come here to escape, at least for a while.

Ever since he was young, Matt always felt different, less of a person, somehow. Unlike so many people surrounding him, Matt never had his own dream, an actual goal to work towards, a passion to drive him. And it made him feel incomplete, lonely, boring.

He thought back on the people he knew, remembered how they all just knew what they wanted to do in life. There was this classmate from middle school, who dream of becoming a basketball player. Even as young as he was, Matt was mesmerised by the boy's passion, he noticed how his eyes positively lit up as he talked about it, how he dedicated every free hour that he had to practice, how he refrained from having cake at birthday parties, saying that athletes needed to watch their diet.

Matt wanted to have that fire burning within himself.

He remembered the numerous 'good' students from their high school, how they were set on getting into top universities, so they never missed a class, took notes religiously, and always aimed to get the high score. Matt knew they sacrificed a lot for that as well, skipping out on going to parties and enjoying various hobbies, all in the name of working towards their goal.

Matt wanted to want something that badly as well.

His thoughts then drifted to his brothers. Nick, with his deep-rooted passion for photography, his eyes always searching for the perfect shot. He remembered how his brother had begged their parents for a camera all the time, how absolutely overjoyed he was when he finally got it, how he took it with them everywhere ever since. He remembered how Nick started skipping movie nights or gaming sessions with their friends, so he could spend time reading up on the theory behind photography, or to watch online courses, all to improve his skills.

Matt also wanted an interest or skill to work and improve on.

He thought of Chris, whose joy came from connecting with people, making them laugh, his enthusiasm infectious and his creativity boundless. He remembered how his brother had made them film various skits, or pranks, and proudly showed the videos to everyone. He remembered how Chris brimmed with enthusiasm every time he succeeded in making others laugh.

Matt wanted to know that feeling too.

He thought about the countless people chasing their passion, how committed they were, willing to put in hours of work each day, years upon years, sacrificing their social life and god knows what else, all to achieve their goal.