RED PARALLEL

Chapter 74: I Bloom With You

Twenty-three months later

Song: Mockingbird (Instrumental), by Eminem.

Right after Gretta's passing, G.klo' was found unconscious by his desk. Meppo was sent to the hospital after a car crash, and died a few hours later. Rumor has it that the three siblings coexisted by a bond so strong that if one of them died, the other two could not live as well. This legends remains to this day as a token of the importance of taking care of oneself for the sake of their brothers and sisters. 

Big Daddy G couldn't resist the heart surgery, this time. As Traviz sat at the waiting room, a river of burden and regret once again flooded his senses. Was it his fault, again? Probably not. So why did he feel responsible for that? Maybe Phants's shot had left a mark on G.klo's chest, and now Traviz feared for the death of his best friend, as well. Phants had suffered from a couple of epilepsy crisis throughout the year, and according to the doctors, it imposed a certain risk but that the reccurence of such phenomenon could alleviate as time went by. But what if didn't? 

The funeral of the three siblings was held on a Saturday evening. It was still excessively sunny. Traviz never thought such a nice weather could feel so aggressive. He wished for rain. Tears falling from heaven. The Crib brothers were gathered in circle around the three thombs. There was a silence of reverence and despair that could not be endured for long. St. Vicent had lost its biggest leaders. The ones that, for better or worse, commanded the area. The city felt lighter, as if about to float to the skies and vanish too. 

Phants stopped by his side, and per usual, removed a particle of dust from Traviz's shirt. It had become their little affectionate gesture when words didn't seem to come out easily. Actually, words had been a difficult subject for both for a long time. Months have passed and they still hadn't managed to have a proper conversation; one that solved their inner afflictions, one that resolved their questions, their confusion. They struggled with a friendship that threatened to fail every time one looked the other way. Traviz knew that Phants's feelings were made of the most fragile material ever, bound to break at the first movement. He saw the ghostly dude putting a massive effort to coexist among The Crib people. And Traviz appreciated that. It was a sign of love. Or devotion and, why not, sacrifice. 

But it didn't feel right. It wasn't enough for Phants. And it wasn't enough for Traviz, either.

"How are you feeling?" Phants asked, the sun streaming through his white hair and painting it yellow. The dude was fond of asking him how he felt. Traviz couldn't bring himself to ask Phants that, because he knew the answer. Phants was broken inside and nothing seemed to fix that. What a cowardice. Traviz knew what Phants needed. Why couldn't he give it to him?

"I'm gonna miss that man," Traviz said, impressed that he wasn't mourning the loss of his adoptive father more than he was mourning a friendship that wouldn't last, because he didn't understand how two people could endure the pain of one loving the other and not receiving the love back. Traviz was indeed a coward.

"I'm gonna miss him, too," Phants said, peering over the The Crib guys and the thombs from afar. "He changed my life. Like he does with everyone else." The way he looked back at him made it clear that he wasn't talking about G.klo'. "A man able to expand every single narrow gap in the world." 

Traviz smiled. How philosophical Phants had turned out to be. In a spiritual way. In a wholesome way. He no longer detested the world. He no longer wished for ruin and destruction. Phants had bloomed beautifully. And what came next only proved how right G.klo' was about him. 

"I have something to share with you, Troy."

"Anything."

Phants smiled a bit. "So... I was thinking of applying to University next year."