Whispering Pages

Echoes

Ethan and Max sat on the couch, the aroma of freshly delivered pizza filling the basement. They eagerly opened the box, revealing a steaming pepperoni and mushroom pie. Max grabbed a slice and took a big bite, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

"Man, nothing beats a good slice of pizza," Max said, his mouth full.

Ethan laughed, grabbing a slice for himself. "You got that right. This is exactly what I needed."

As they ate, they chatted about their favorite video games and shared funny stories from their past. The atmosphere was relaxed and carefree, the perfect way to unwind after a long day. Max reached for the controller and fired up their favorite game, and soon they were engrossed in an epic battle, the sounds of explosions and laughter filling the room.

After a while, Max stretched and stood up. "Alright, I'm gonna go take a quick shower. I'll be right back," he said, heading towards the stairs. "Feel free to keep playing and hit the joint if you want."

Ethan nodded, his eyes still on the screen. "Got it, thanks."

As Max disappeared upstairs, Ethan picked up the joint and took a slow drag, feeling the familiar warmth spread through his body. He continued to play, losing himself in the game, when suddenly his phone buzzed. Glancing down, he saw a FaceTime call from Haley. He hesitated for a moment before answering, curious about what she had to say.

Ethan's face lit up as he answered the FaceTime call, excited to speak to Haley. "Hey, Haley! What's up?"

Haley smiled apologetically. "Hey, Ethan! Sorry I missed your call earlier. What are you up to?"

Ethan leaned back on the couch, still holding the joint. "Just hanging out with a new friend I just met. His name's Max. We're having a chill night, eating pizza and playing video games."

Haley raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? What friend? And since when did you start smoking?"

Ethan took another hit from the joint, exhaling slowly. "Yeah, Max is pretty cool. I don't usually smoke, but I figured I'd give it a try tonight. Max uses it for his anxiety, and he offered, so why not?"

Haley replied, "Okay, that's great. Just be safe, okay?" She then added, "Maybe I can join next time. I was actually planning to come see you tonight."

Ethan nodded, "Oh, that sounds fun, but I'm actually staying the night here with Max. His parents are out of town, so we thought it'd be cool to hang out."

Haley asked, "Hey, how are you doing, Ethan?"

Ethan hesitated before replying, "Honestly, not great. When I got home late again, my dad was drunk with his buddies. He started taunting me about where I had been, and things escalated. He ended up slapping me, so I had to sneak out."

Haley replied, all concerned, "Oh no, Ethan, that's terrible. I'm really sorry you had to go through that. Are you okay now?"

Ethan replied, "I'm feeling better now that I'm away from there. I think I'll sneak back in before my dad goes to work tomorrow morning."

Haley replied, "Okay, just be careful."

Ethan asked, "Are you okay, Haley?" but suddenly he heard her mom and dad, Mrs. and Mr. Thomson, arguing in the background.

Just then, Max came back from his shower, startling Ethan. "Who are you on the phone with?" Max asked.

Haley quickly said, "I have to go," and hung up.

Ethan looked at Max and said, "That was Haley, just a friend from school."

Max asked, "Is she your girlfriend?"

Ethan quickly started blushing and denied it, "No, no, she's just a friend."

Max chuckled, "I'm just teasing. So, Ethan, where would you like to crash tonight? Guest room upstairs or down in the basement?"

Ethan replied, "I'll take the guest bedroom."

Max showed him where it was, and they both said, "Goodnight."

Ethan gets comfy in the bed, drifts off to sleep, and starts having a dream about his mom. The dream feels so real, almost like she's there with him.

In the dream, Ethan finds himself in a familiar place, his childhood home. The sun is shining through the windows, casting a warm glow over everything. He looks around and sees his mom and dad, just like it used to be. His mom smiles at him, her eyes filled with love.

"Ethan, I've missed you so much," she says, wrapping him in a warm hug. "I want you to know how much I love you and how proud I am of you."

Ethan feels a lump in his throat, but he manages to smile back. "I miss you too, Mom. I think about you every day."

They sit down together on the couch, and his mom takes his hand. "You've grown into such an amazing person, Ethan. I see all the good things you're doing, and it makes me so happy."

As Ethan feels a sense of peace wash over him, he notices his dad in the corner of the room, holding a bottle of whiskey. His dad's expression is dark and brooding, and he takes a long swig from the bottle. The warm glow starts to fade, and the room becomes colder.

Ethan's mom squeezes his hand gently, trying to keep his attention. "Remember, Ethan, I'm always with you, in your heart and in your memories. Whenever you need me, just close your eyes and remember this moment."

But Ethan can't ignore his dad, who is now stumbling towards them, the bottle nearly empty. He starts shouting, his words slurred and angry. "You think you're so perfect, Ethan! You're just like your mother!"

The peaceful moment shatters, and Ethan feels a wave of fear and sadness. The dream turns into a nightmare as his dad's voice echoes in his ears. Ethan's mom tries to comfort him, but the darkness is overwhelming.

Ethan wakes up, his heart pounding, the nightmare still fresh in his mind.