𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬? - 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐘

hello, denver

After Finney escaped the Grabber, his dad decided to move out of town for his kids' safety. The memories were too haunting, the neighborhood too dangerous. So, Finney spent all his high school years in another country. It was hard for him—not being with Donna every science class, not feeling the protective shadow of Robin nearby. It was difficult, but he managed. Each day felt like a battle, but he pushed through.

Finally, as he was about to start college, his dad decided to move back to Denver, thinking his kids might be old enough to handle it. And so, they did.

Finney shoved his bags into the car, hearing his sister yelling from a distance. "What!" Finney answered in annoyance, his voice edged with the stress of the move.

"Save some space for my old toys!" she yelled louder this time, making sure her brother heard her loud and clear. Finney sighed out of frustration and moved his bag to make some space for Gwen's.

His heart pounded throughout the road trip. His mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions. All he could think about was his friends, especially Donna. Did she still live in Denver? Did she choose to stay for college? Did she even remember him? The thought of her brought a mixture of hope and dread.

Unexpectedly, Robin crossed his mind too. He couldn't deny he was worried about him, though not as much. He knew Robin was a bit cold-hearted, seemingly unattached to anyone, and most importantly, he could take care of himself. But did Robin forgive him? After what happened that night, Finney wondered if Robin was still mad at him.

What if Robin was still there?

What if Robin held a grudge all these years?

Shit.

Finney thought to himself. The idea of seeing Robin across the street was already killing him. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach, the anxiety creeping in like a shadow he couldn't shake off.

Finney sighed and rolled down the car window. He reached out his hand to feel the wind, hoping the breeze would calm his racing thoughts. But his silence was interrupted by his sister's annoying voice.

"You know you can get your hand cut off doing that, right?"

Finney glared at her as he slowly rolled up the window. The car felt stifling, his emotions boxed in just like his luggage. He rested his back against the seat, pulled out his sketchbook, and began sketching, trying to lose himself in the familiar motions.

Back at his old school, Finney found a new hobby: drawing. When no one wanted to sit with him at lunch, he would pull out his sketchbook and draw his heart out. The isolation was crushing, but drawing was his escape. When he felt lonely, he drew. He drew Donna. His sketchbook was filled with her portraits, and over the years, he became so good at drawing that he started to join contests and win.

Drawing Donna was his way of holding onto something familiar, something that gave him a sense of belonging.

It's all about her

Everything that finney does, is all about her.

His donna that he misses so badly

Each stroke of his pencil was a connection to the past, a bridge to the people he missed. His art was his refuge, a silent testament to his resilience and longing.

After hours of driving, the familiar skyline of Denver appeared in the distance. Finney's heart raced as memories flooded back. Every street and building held a ghost of his past, and with each passing mile, his anxiety grew.

They finally pulled into their old neighborhood. It looked both familiar and foreign, like a place from a dream. As they unloaded the car, Finney’s heart thudded in his chest. He glanced around, half-expecting to see Donna or Robin appear out of nowhere.