Never Too Late

Chapter Forty Five

The wind blew through Johan's window and gently stirred his hair as he lay in bed, but he didn't move. He didn't have the energy or interest to leave his room since Liz's funeral a few days prior. Now he spent his time in silence. His mother and sister had checked on him occasionally and offered him food but he barely had an appetite and didn't want to be bothered. Most times he didn't answer when they called him, not because he wanted to be rude but because he needed solitude. His father and brother would text him and ask if he wanted to talk but he didn't reply.

Pulling his legs closer to his chest, he stared vacantly out the window before closing his eyes again. He'd spent the past days mostly sleeping; his only escape from the harshness of reality. When he wasn't, he mourned silently and lamented the pitifulness of his current state.

He was about to drift into sleep again when his phone rang, jolting him. He tried to ignore it, but it kept ringing until he sat up annoyed. Figuring it was his brother wanting to talk, he went to turn off his phone, but then he saw the caller ID.

It was Asher. Shocked, he had completely forgotten about him because of everything that happened between his eye surgery, graduation, and Liz. He wondered why it had taken so long for him to get back to him and more importantly, he wanted to know if what he saw about him on the news was true. Had he really become a criminal and a murderer at that?

"Asher?" He breathed, wondering if it was truly him. "Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," he answered warm and familiar causing a breath of relief to escape Johan.

"Where are you? Are you okay? What happened?" Johan asked multiple questions all at once, as his mind begged for answers that would not only vindicate Asher but assuage the fears he had since hearing the news.

"Can you meet me somewhere right now?" His voice was calm and warm.

He didn't sound like a gangster, Johan thought.

"Sure, send me the address." He said, pulling himself out of bed.

Johan felt apprehension about meeting with him so abruptly after not getting any of his questions answered but he felt an obligation to his friend that outweighed any risk. Furthermore, he wasn't convinced Asher was a gangster, he had never been a troublemaker before so why would he be now?

Forcing himself out of bed, he walked down the stairs to his very surprised and concerned family. Excusing himself quickly before they could question him about how he was doing, he got in his car and followed the directions sent to him by Asher.

He followed the directions Asher sent and arrived at a quiet location where he waited, staring at the passing traffic silently. His windows were half rolled down, with the moist and warm summer wind gently blowing in. He checked around but didn't see Asher until a knock at his window startled him. Getting out of his car, he was greeted by him in a moment that felt bittersweet.

"It's been a while," he said softly.

Johan followed him to a nearby park and they sat on a bench far out of view from everyone else. He had many questions he wanted to ask him but waited patiently to hear what Asher had to say first.

"I heard about Liz. How are you holding up?" He asked concerned. He seemed to be doing much better than when he last saw him, a lot like his old self instead of looking half-drunk and miserable.

"I don't know," he responded honestly. "She often left town, so it feels like one of those times right now, but I know she's not coming back."

"I'm sorry I couldn't come to the funeral, with things being as they are now, I have to avoid being seen." He murmured, leaning back and smiling sadly.

"Asher, did you really do the things they said?" Johan finally asked, but he already knew the truth.

"I've got myself wrapped up in some serious business," Asher said not answering the question directly. "Remember the documents I gave you about your family? Things like that aren't just lying around. The people I'm dealing with are on another level."

"But why?" Johan was astonished at his friend's casual confession and implication that he might be engaging in more illegal activities.

"Things... happened," He muttered with an inkling that there was much more left unsaid. "I'm glad you didn't have to follow a path like mine."

"Asher, maybe if you go to the police you can explain everything, do your time and-" Johan began but Asher shook his head in resignation.

"I can't, I won't," he admitted before silence filled the air.

Johan's gaze shifted to his hands. He knew what had happened wasn't his fault, but he felt like he had failed his friend somewhere along the way. Looking back at him, he saw acceptance written on his face; he had chosen the path he was on and had made peace with whatever would happen to him afterward.

"Johan, I heard you're going to college. I'm proud of you," he said, looking off into the park. Two young boys around the age he and Johan were when they'd met, ran and played on the grass contentedly.

"How did you -" Johan began, surprised.

"I have sources remember," Asher reminded him.

Johan sat dumbfounded before Asher  outstretched his hand to him.

"Open your phone and give it to me," he instructed, his gaze still set on the playing children.

"What? Why?" He asked confused but handed it to him regardless.

"The world we come from does nothing but take and destroy but you're different. You were able to make it out," Asher said as he scrolled through Johan's contacts then stopped at his name before deleting it.

"What are you doing!?" Johan asked alarmed.

"It's time for you to forget about me. To forget about the past and move on. There's nothing left for you here," Asher said smiling sadly. "I know you're going to do wonderful things but the life we lived before, the life I'm living isn't for you."

Johan looked on in stunned silence, at a loss for words at what he was saying, his chest felt heavy because he understood that he only wanted the best for him even if it meant severing their friendship.

"I can't just forget everything. It won't be that easy," Johan whispered. "That's a lot to ask,"

Asher had been his refuge in hard times, the person who showed him the bright side of every bad moment, his brother. Now their paths were diverging forever. He had just lost Liz, now he was losing Asher too.

"With time you'll move forward," Asher said rising to his feet and handing him back his phone.

He stood as well before he and Asher hugged and pat each other on the back.

"Please take care of yourself," Johan said with his heart still heavy. He wished it didn't have to be this way but life wasn't fair.

"You too, I know you'll go far," Asher murmured before his smile finally faltered. "Promise me something."

"What's is it?" Johan asked puzzled.

"Never look back."

***
Thanks to all my readers and sorry about the inconsistent updates, work is heck. 😅 This book will be ending in a couple chapters so stay tuned! ✨