Letters To You (Zach Aplin FanFic)

Prologue

"Zach..." I heard your mothers soothing voice as she placed a hand on my shoulder and crouched beside me. I looked over at her from where I sat curled up on the floor, not finding any words to speak. I took in her tear stained cheeks and tired eyes. I probably looked the same. You wouldn't have wanted this. You hated having people hurting because of you. But this wasn't your fault. None of it was.

She handed me a thick white envelope. Confused, I wiped my wet eyes and took it from her. Turning it over, my eyes widened at the sight of your messy writing spelling out my name on the front. I looked back at your mom.

"She wanted me to give this to you. And tell you she loved you." She choked out, her voice barely over a whisper.

My heart clenched so much it hurt. But I was used to the pain. I ran my fingers over your letters, trying to imagine your weak hands dragging a pencil across the paper I held in my hands. I closed my eyes and more and more tears welled up and slowly slid down my cheeks.

The door to your hospital room opened and the nurses began to wheel your gurney out. I shoved my face into your mothers neck and began to sob. She protectively wrapped her arms around me and I clung to her like a wet blanket. I didn't want to see you like that; cold and lifeless. I can't believe you were gone. You were ripped away from me against your will. Now I won't ever see you again. It wasn't fair.

"Okay, they're gone."

I looked up and wiped my eyes, my lip still trembling. I detached myself and looked down at your printing on the envelope.

"Open it." Your mother encouraged. "I'll be with John if you need anything." She rubbed my arm and got up off the floor, going to join your dad. He was trying to be strong for your mother, but you could tell he was hurting.

With a deep breath, I opened the crisp white envelope and pulled out your letter. Unfolding the paper, I began to read.

zacн,

ιғ yoυ're readιng тнιѕ, тнaт мeanѕ ι'м gone. ι can'т ѕay we dιdn'т ĸnow тнιѕ waѕ goιng тo нappen, вυт we were нopιng ιт dιdn'т. ι wιѕн ι waѕ тнere wιтн yoυ. ι wιѕн ι coυld dance wιтн yoυ lιĸe we υѕed тo, вeғore ι goт ѕιcĸ. вυт тнιngѕ нappen, and ѕoмeтιмeѕ тнere'ѕ noтнιng we can do aвoυт ιт, no мaттer нow мυcн we wιѕн we coυld. ι нope yoυ're doιng oĸay. ι нope yoυ won'т ғorgeт aвoυт мe. ι love yoυ.

I wiped my eyes for what seemed like the millionth time as my tears splashed onto the paper. I could hear your voice reading the words to me. I looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath for continuing on.

ι'м goιng тo тell yoυ a ѕтory. a ѕтory тнaт мade мe laυgн and cry and ѕмιle. yoυ're ιn тнιѕ ѕтory, zacн. and ѕo aм ι. тнιѕ ιѕ тнe ѕтory oғ υѕ. ғroм тнe very вegιnnιng тo тнe very end. well, ιт'ѕ мore lιĸe a reтell. wнaтever ιт ιѕ, yoυ вeттer read ιт all, вecaυѕe тнιѕ тooĸ мe a long тιмe тo wrιтe. ι'м goιng тo ѕтarт now, нere ιт goeѕ: