𝕋ℝ𝔸ℕ𝕊𝔸

𝙱𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚘'𝚜 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙸: 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙳id

I can see in the way you write those letters that you make for me that the details of the truth come to you later than they do for me, and when you notice them, you speak your mind, the exact opposite of me.

In many ways, of course, we are the same. You lost your father at 14, issues in surgery, I lost mine at 7, God knows how. We think differently, but we share this and many other similar experiences.

I don't know why I chose to write them out, especially in the honesty at which I was this morning, but I do.

On the paper I wrote "Carefully, step through the garden and down the path in the forest, by the creek and to the back of a home, behind a fence and trees of autumn, I discover a pair of-"

My writing was cut off by a knock on my door. "Bruno, honey, are you finished getting ready for school?" My mom asked, I glanced up in a panic and saw you in your window, but I crumpled the paper and tossed it aside, running to grab my bag nervously. "Yes ma'am, I mean, n-no, I'm sorry, Mom" she sighs. "Just hurry your ass up, I made breakfast and I intended to eat it with you, Kat's gonna want you walking with her as always and you know you'll have to leave soon to make it on time" I tried to think of a reply and just muttered an "okay" as I slipped into a pair of pants, in the nearby bathroom down the hall and ran downstairs

There was tension at the table, my mom seemed angry and upset about something, but I didn't dare ask, I'd rather spare myself the lecture or the rant. I finished slowly so she'd be done before me and left the table, waiting till she was gone to sneak some leftovers for you, I know full well you love those fucking sandwiches, for some damn reason, though I never saw the appeal.

I walked out the door by my mom's room, turning up my music, and fiddling with the buttons on my earbuds to block out the noise of her yelling into the phone at some stranger who'd been working customer service.

I took a much-needed breath of fresh air at the walk-through garden and house

You opened the door for me, I scrambled nervously to turn down my music, accidentally skipping songs before just yanking the earbuds out and turning them off, praying you wouldn't notice my panic as I let out a muttered "H-hey"

You were so distracted today, so distant, without looking up from your phone you asked "Hey, how are you, Bruno?". The nerves hit me harder, thoughts you might be growing tired of me

The rest of the day was like that too, distance.

Distance in the walk to school, distance in the wait outside school, distance at breakfast, all our classes, texts in classes we don't share, passing period, lunch, after school, it was so unusual. You're always Bubbly and silly, happily so, but your phone had been in your all day.

During the break we took at the bridge over Florence, you still seemed distant, and when you finally stopped to look at me for a bit, your attention lingered. Still feeling awkward, I avoided eye contact, but I noticed your facial expressions, you felt unpleased, unhappy, and unusually so, you seemed to be thinking about me, why?

I turned and asked. "Kat?" Your head turned as if wanting to meet my eyes, but your vision lay on the phone, and then your head turned back. "Mhm?"

"Kat, what's with the phone today?" I said blatantly

"What do you mean?" You asked after a pause

I sighed loudly, wanting you to hear, wanting to make my frustration known. "You haven't looked up from your phone more than maybe twice in the past hour and a half, what's with it?"

You finally put your phone down, aggressively pushing it down into your lap and smiling at me. "I met a guy, Bruno, he's so great, you'd have to believe me, he's so good to me. We've been dating for a week now and I'm sure he's the one"

I was taken aback by this. "Don't you think that's kind. . .I don't know, risky, Katharine?" You shrugged "Not really, you should meet him, you'd probably like him, you guys like a lot of the same video games and movies, and maybe you'd get along over that skating game you're so into"

You said it sarcastically as if you wanted to offend me as if you wanted it to hurt. I squinted my eyes, a little offended. "Do you have a photo of this guy I could see maybe? Any way to know who the fuck he is?" You seemed nervous at the question, then you got defensive. "Why, Bruno, must you constantly bother me? You know I love you, Bruno, but for God's sake would you allow me to have my secrets?"

I was offended by the outburst, but it was understandable, I had been through too much with you to try arguing, you being happy with this guy was all that mattered.

After everything, you deserved it