Short stories

Reuniting Friends

Laying on his bed as music filled the room, made him think of things that he wouldn't normally think of. He was sure things could never return to the simpler state of his younger days. Hiding beneath documents and flags was a simple ring. His friend, Mikael gave it to him when they were still in sophomores in high school. He called it a friendship band. The promise was that they stay friends as long as the Sun and Stars continued to exist. But right after they graduate, he moved to Michigan as he was accepted at a good college there. They did try to stay connected but it ultimately failed.

Sighing, he stood up. Mrs Margarete said she needed help in the bakery and he did offer to give a helping hand. Picking up his wallet, he opened his apartment door and left. The bakery wasn't that far, only a block away. It was started by Ms Margarete's parents and was a simple bakery. Nothing really special about it. Ignored by the surrounding world.

When he entered the bakery, he was beyond shock. He was sure he wasn't hallucinating but this couldn't be possible... The last he heard of him, he was in Japan studying theatre. Why would HE be in the United States?

Leaning against the counter stood Mikael all dressed in blazing red.

His thoughts racing yet he couldn't bring himself to move. There stood Mikael. Cheerful, obnoxious Mikael. Many things have changed but it seemed Mikael was the same.

Back then, they were practically inseparable. Sure, he sometimes annoyed him but he missed that. For years, Mikael was something he considered a constant part of his, or their, lives. Mikael was everything he wasn't. Practically his opposite. Everyone was curious how they even became friends. But it didn't matter, they treasured their friendship.

Even if it practically ended, he missed waking up to the smell of coffee and Mikael in his kitchen. It became the norm since they became friends.

Turns out he didn't even need to move.

"Eirik?"

Mikael spotted him. By the look of it, he wasn't expecting to see him either. What he wasn't expecting was to be hugged by the guy. In retrospect, he should have seen this coming. But he was in too much shock, he supposed, to do anything about it.

He let Mikael talk about how cool university was and that "wow! We haven't seen each other in years, how are you?" He explained he was only in the United States since he was on term break and wasn't expecting to see him at all.

When the shock wore off, he managed to pry him off with the promise of seeing each other soon. Mikael made him promised to come to the swing set at the nearby park and told him to bring the ring.

"You do still have it right?"