Byler Oneshots

Fading Bonds

As the years passed, Mike and Will found themselves drifting apart. What was once an inseparable friendship began to unravel, the threads of their bond fraying with each passing day. Mike, with his easy smile and charismatic charm, found himself drawn to new horizons, his attention captured by the enigmatic Jane. Will, on the other hand, watched from the sidelines, a silent observer to the transformation of his closest friend.

Their paths intersected only fleetingly now, relegated to the occasional family dinner where their mothers, longtime friends, clung to the hope of rekindling the camaraderie that had once defined their sons' relationship.

At seventeen, Mike and Will found themselves worlds apart, their once-shared dreams and aspirations diverging with each passing moment.

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Will pov:

Got it, let's make those adjustments:

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**"Fading Bonds"**

The aroma of roast chicken filled the air as I sat at the dinner table. Mom had invited Mike's family over, Karen and Joyce, who were like besties just like Mike and me used to be. My gaze fixed on my plate as I toyed with my food, lost in thought. Across from me, Mike engaged in animated conversation with his parents, his laughter ringing out like a distant echo in the confines of the dining room.

Mom, sensing my subdued mood, reached out to me with a gentle touch. "Is everything alright, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

I forced a smile, masking the turmoil that churned within me. "Yeah, Mom. I'm fine," I replied, my tone lacking conviction.

Unbeknownst to her, my gaze flickered towards Mike and Jane, who sat a few seats away. I watched them with a mixture of envy and resignation, my heart heavy with the weight of unspoken longing.

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The dinner had ended, and the guests had bid their farewells, leaving Mike and me alone in the quiet confines of the dining room. I lingered at the table, lost in thought, while Mike gathered up the dishes with a distracted air.

"So... how's everything going with Jane?" I ventured, trying to break the silence that hung heavy between us.

Mike paused, a fleeting expression of hesitation crossing his features before he replied, "It's good, I guess. We've been spending a lot of time together lately."

I nodded, a pang of jealousy gnawing at my insides. "That's great," I forced myself to say, my words tinged with a bitterness I couldn't quite conceal.

As Mike continued to clear the table, his attention focused elsewhere, I felt a surge of frustration welling up inside me. How could Mike be so oblivious to the pain he was causing, so blind to the rift that had formed between us?

"Mike," I began, my voice tinged with a note of desperation. "Can we talk for a moment?"

Mike glanced up, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Sure, what's up?"

The words caught in my throat, suffocated by the weight of unspoken emotions. "I just... I miss us, you know?" I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I miss hanging out, talking about everything and nothing, just like we used to."

For a moment, a flicker of recognition passed through Mike's eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the pain he had unwittingly inflicted. But before I could say anything more, Mike's phone buzzed with a new message, pulling his attention away once more.

"Sorry, man," Mike apologized distractedly, his gaze fixed on the glowing screen. "I gotta take this. Maybe we can talk later?"

The words hung in the air like a silent reproach, leaving me to wrestle with the ache of rejection that threatened to consume me. In that moment, I realized that some wounds ran deeper than others, their scars invisible to the naked eye but no less painful for their hidden nature.