The Impeccable Infinity

Chapter 30

I woke up early to give Mute a surprise for his birthday. Once I moved here, I was left without much money besides college savings. So, with the money I had, I bough him some things that he can remember me by once he leaves.

I opened his door slowly to prevent the hinges from creaking, and I closed it behind myself so nobody would see me in his room. I went over to his bed and studied his face, watching the way his eye lids fluttered and his nose crinkled. Whisps of hair fell over his eyes, covering the top part of his face.

"Mute," I whispered. He only moved slightly by repositioning his head on the pillow and grabbing on tighter to his blankets.

"Mute, wake up. It's your birthday." Still nothing.

I walked over to the end of his bed and grabbed a pillow he had lying on the ground. I picked it up and walked back to where he was peacefully sleeping and quietly snoring. I watched his face move every few seconds, crimping each part, and then relaxing to full ease.

I smiled and then held the pillow above my head, positioning it towards his body. If he's not going to make it easy, then I'm willing to play his game. I threw the pillow against his face, which caused his eyes to tighten and a groan to release from his mouth. I did it once again and he shot up in bed.

"Okay, stop!" He commanded, putting out a hand in defense.

I laughed and sat next to him while he rubbed his eyes and moved the dirty blonde pieces of hair out of his face. He squinted at the light when he turned to face me.

"You're evil."

"No I'm not, I'm just impatient."

"Why are you up so early?"

"Because," I said, rolling my eyes, "it's your birthday!"

"Oh yea, I forgot that was today."

"How did you forget?"

"You almost forgot when it was your birthday."

"Well," I said, trying to think of an excuse.

"Never mind, it doesn't matter. I got you a present!" I exclaimed, handing him the box with his presents inside.

"Well aren't you kind," he mumbled while smiling.

I watched as he carefully tore at the dark blue wrapping paper and placed it off to the side. He ripped the tape off the cardboard box and crumpled it up. Carefully, he pulled up the flaps of the box and looked inside.

"Haley," he said, studying the inside of the box.

"Do you like what I got you?" I asked.

He pulled out a small, leather journal with an elastic binding to keep it closed. Along with that, he pulled out a chain. I bought him it, but knew he would say it was a necklace if I tried to put anything sentimental on it.

"Thank you," he whispered, leaning over on the bed to wrap an arm around me. I hugged him back and felt the warmth of his once-sleeping body.

"No problem, do you like them?"

"Of course."

"I got you the journal so you could write in it while your gone. Then, when you come back to visit, you can read me each day to keep me caught up in your life."

He laughed and nodded while rubbing the small creases and cracks in the leather.

"Can you put the chain on me?" He asked while turning away from me.

I took the chain from his hand and put it around the front of his neck, bringing the two connecting pieces to the back. His back was warm and his neck was soft as I secured the clasping on the chain. I allowed it to fall down onto his chest.

"I got that for you since you got me the bracelet and all."

"I love it sweetheart."

I smiled and looked down at my hands, much like Mute does whenever I compliment him on anything. But when I looked back up, I noticed something I hadn't before. Everything in his room was packed away in cardboard boxes, bounded by thick plastic tape. The posters that once hung above his bed are now replaced by rectangles of dust, and the small pictures by his desk are no longer there, and the desk itself is bare.

"Everything's gone," I whispered, running a hand across my mouth in awe.

"Haley, today's my birthday. It's my last day here. I'm on my own tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Right after your birthday? I thought they would've given you more time to get situated and all. Why would they just kick you out on your first day of being eighteen?"

"Because they need to make room for a new kid as soon as possible. Haley, it's a system, you know that and I know that. It doesn't mean it's a good system, but it's one none the least."

"Oh," I said, feeling my breath escape from my mouth. I looked around his room and imagined what was once around me. The people in the frames once watched the first day I met Mute. Now, they're all packed away in a box, ready to live a new life where they whiteness whole new situations. Ones which don't include me.

"Please don't be sad. I promised you I'd be back."

"I know. It's just, I didn't know you were leaving this soon."

"The sooner it comes, the sooner we can get used to the change. Trust me, it'll be okay."

I smiled and nodded, trying to stay strong. I don't want him to know I'm upset, especially on his birthday. He has a point, maybe it's nice to just get this phase over with.

"And you still have your bracelet, and I have my chain. We'll just look at them when we're missing each other."

"And the star," I reminded him, making him smile. I found the star once again last night, and it felt just as important to me as it did the first night Mute showed it to me.

"Are you ready for the best last day together?" He asked, jumping off his bed and pulling me with him.

I laughed as he spun me around and danced around his room in excitement. I tried to act mature, like I thought he was being childish, but I ended up joining him. Together, we danced in circles, laughing and singing the lyrics to old songs that only we would know. It may be his last day, but I'm going to make it count.