I miss you, I'm sorry

Part 19

The next day, Aj and Chunkz were sat in an empty abandoned park, side by side on the basket swing as Aj began to explain the story...

20 years ago...

Aj was running around the front garden when a mum and her child walk up to the front door. The child looked around Aj's age, maybe a bit younger, and Aj was excited. Aj had older siblings who never played with him due to the large age gap, so would always spend time together rather than with Aj. He runs up to them, "Hi I'm Aj! Well, my name is Ayaanle, but everyone calls me Aj, what's your name?"

Niko looks fearfully at his mother, before turning back to Aj. "I-I'm Niko."

Just then Aj's mum opened the door, and squeels excitedly and hugs Nikos mum happily. "Oh My God, it's been way too long!"

"6 years to be exact," She answers back, "This is Nikolas my son."

"Aww he's adorable. I see you've already met Ayaanle."

Aj's mum leads the woman into the house sitting her down on the sofa and offering her tea or coffee. They chat and catch up for a while, whilst Aj drags Niko over to his room.

"So Niko, do you wanna play with me?"

Niko shyly nods, wondering what Aj was going to offer.

"Here, press the button and the car goes around. We can race."

Before Long, Niko had broken out of his shell, whilst him and Aj played with the race car, laughing and giggling away...

"Yes. Well, I've come to ask a favour, uhm, I need to work, and I can't afford a babysitter, and seeming as you're looking after Ayaanle, I was wondering if you could look after Nikolas for me." Nikos mum says, taking a sip of her tea.

"Of course! If he's just as amazing as you then I'm more than happy to," AJ's mum replies.

........

"From that day, Niko was always at my house, especially after... its not my place to say what happened, thats his story to tell, but we were inseparable." Aj tells Chunkz, allowing himself to be rocked on the swing.

............

"Aje, the chocolate is curly like your hair!" Niko says excitedly, taking a bite out of the bar.

"It matches your hair too, you have little curlies,"

"But my curls aren't like yours though," Niko pouts. His mum always ensured his hair was somewhat short, never allowing it to grow into a curly mess like Aj's. Part of him was jealous Aj got to grow out his curls so beautifully, but another part recognised how the curls made Aj, Aj.

"Its okay though Nik, cause we both have curly hair, and we are matching! It doesnt matter how long it is."

=======

"Boys come, lets take a picture," Aj's mum shouts across the garden, causing both boys to run over and stand side by side, arms swung across each other. Niko looks up happily at Aj, curly wurly bar stuck between his teeth, whilst Aj looked up at his mum, him too with the chocolate in his mouth, giggling out of position as they hear the shutter snap.

13 years ago...

Aj and Niko sat upon the hill that looked over the city. A small patch of grass lay over the top, as the edge reached out and over the town, the glows of each building or home gradually being put out, leaving the boys in the silence of their thoughts; it wasn't anything special, but it was theirs.

Aj had been working up the courage to tell Niko about his discovery, one that had been clawing away at him for so long he could feel his insides being chewed up, and spat out, causing a sickly stomach feeling.