I'll Be Back

"Josh, don't go!"

"Tyler, you know I have to. I'll be back, don't worry."

"You always say that. I barely see you anymore."

"I'm sorry. But I still come back. Just don't worry."

"Josh, don't leave! Josh! Josh, no!"

I never saw him anymore. I was alone. Everyone made fun of me. My family abandoned me. I didn't have anyone.

I sat on my bed. My mom would check on me every so often. She didn't do that before. She started after the... incident. I dont know what it is, Mom never told me. But she cringes everytime I bring it up. She also looks like she wished something never happened. She walked in with a sad look on her face.

"Hey Tyler." There was a short pause. "So, um... everything alright?"

"Yeah Mom, I'm fine. Just... kind of scared." I felt like tears were about to pour out. I held it in. I had to be strong.

"Listen, I know it's been tough. I know times are hard. But hey, schools starting again. New friends, new teachers, are you excited!" I could tell Mom was trying to reassure me. I can also tell she was afraid. I heard it in her voice.

"I guess. I mean, it's good for me to get out of the house." Ever since the beginning of summer, the only time I was out of the house was to answer the door.

"Yeah. Well, I'll leave you alone. Stay safe, okay?"

"Okay Mom." I fell asleep after that. It felt like 5 minutes. Turns out it was 2 days. I was fine. But I woke up the night before school. I fell back asleep. I woke up again. It was my mom. Next thing you know, I'm on my way to school.

The day was fine. We got to know the class, a little bit of homework. It was normal. It was like that for a week. I woke up, went to school, came home, watched TV, found some reason to skip dinner, then fell asleep. I could tell Mom was getting worried. But it's been like that. Ever since he left.

Then came the news.

After 2 days, we moved. Whole new school, whole new state. The whole process all over again. I don't know how I feel now. I guess it's just... complicated.

The next day at school, I had a feeling. It felt good. I seemed more positive then I was before. Then it hit me. Well, it took a couple days. But it started by walking down the halls. I bumped into someone, and he turned to me. I couldn't get his face out of my head. It looked so familiar.

Then I heard his voice. It hit me hard. Like I've heard it before. Then I realized. It was Josh.

I saw him again the next day. I wanted to talk to him, but I had no words. He was in all my classes, so I couldn't focus. Somehow, I got good grades. That caused me to stay in the same classes. It's like it was... fate.

I told my mom, and she came to school to volunteer for something. I saw her, then I saw him. I saw Josh. I told Mom.

"Mom, that's Josh! Remember him from when I was young?" I pointed at him excitedly.

Mom looked sad. "I see him, honey. That's amazing!"

I was confused. But I was fine. It was months later. I got the courage to talk to him. I ran up to him.

"Hey, Josh! It's me Tyler!"

"Tyler?"

"Yeah, you probably don't remember me, but we knew each other when we were young."

"Oh, I remember you!"

We had a long conversation. Then it ended. I told Mom. She burst out in tears.

"I should've told you sooner. But Josh is dead. He died when you were young. I'm sorry, but Josh is gone."

"What? That can't be possible, I just talked to him! No, he isn't gone! He can't be gone!!"

I ran up to my room. I cried for hours. It couldn't be possible. I even remembered his last words. "I'll still come back. Don't worry."

After a week, I found his grave. I looked at it, with a look of despair in my eyes. I was about to cry. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around.

It was Josh.

"I told you I'll be back."