Fogo [Discontinued Read Desc]

Fogo: The Past

The rain danced on my windshield as the wiper blades slid across, pushing the delicate droplets down to the dark pavement road. Though the clouds covered the sun, light shone down into the forest. Reaching high noon I wasn't even a quarter of my way to town. As the rain pelted onto the glass I began to have short flashbacks of when Mike was normal, when he was happy, before that stupid radio tower was built. What I remember most about him, my happiest memory with him, was when we both were in our final year of high school. Neither of us went to college because we couldnt afford to tend college on the main lands.

We were both walking along the streets in the town just as the school year was ending when he tapped my arm with excitement –

"Jay, check this out!" Mike bubbled with joy

"What?"

"It's a news flyer stating about the closing of the shop, finally this damn rust bucket can go," he laughed. I laughed along.

We already had plans to meet up with a couple of our friends from Biology class and we arrived at the town square early. We continued to ridicule the old diner that sold shit for food, sluts for waitresses and a boss that only cared about money and nothing else but that. Most businesses are collapsing in Cedars because everyone is too scared to go outside. No one outside shopping now a days, no business. Even before the tower was built the town was suffering, economically. Some amazing town huh. Arriving at the centre of the Town Square we sat on a bench next to each other.

I never got to tell Mike how I felt about him. Shame because I think he had the same feelings, but I mean what are the odds of a popular jock wannabe dude like Mike wanting to be with a loser like me? but that's besides the point.

"Do you know when the others are going to get here?" Mike asked

"Nope not at all, I told them to be here by noon," replying to him. Being next to him sent my heart to 1000 beats a second, his cologne, his face, his body – who knew he could have such an amazing personality for someone who is quite self centered. Not the type of self centered to where it's all about him, but yet to where he always keeps to himself. He was kind and sweet at heart, savage, but the good kind that made you laugh. He was the silent around most people, but sometimes outgoing. He secretly had a small rose garden next to his bathroom window because he says he likes how something so beautiful can be so dangerous. I guess you could say the same about Fogo Island too.

Looking in the direction of the entrance I saw in the corner of my eye a hand on the other side of the bench. Taking a moment to understand what was going on I realized it was his hand. I nearly shit myself knowing that he practically hugged me. Our friends arrived not long after that and we ended up going to see a movie, to which I sat next to him and my best friend Robin.

---

I bet it meant nothing when he rested his hand around me and he was probably just trying to relax. Sadly, Robin was someone else to disappear, now I have a good idea what happened to her. Mike was the second person I lost, I never thought I could have feeling for a man, but somehow he took my heart. Now... He's gone. I still remember the very first time we met. Stupid clumsy me I was walking down the hallway and ran into him and his friends. Made him drop his phone and watched it smash into millions of pieces. When i realized what happened i thought i was about to be sent to the angels while apologizing profusly. Offering to pay for a new phone or even to get it fixed saved me from a beating of a lifetime. 

Wasn't until about a month after i paid for his phone a bunch of guys came from an alleyway and jumped me. I was lucky Mike was in a cafe across the street at the time. He saved me from the guys and with that he sustained some pretty bad punches to the face. Only thing I got was a cut to the arm from a pocket knife, but it wasn't severe. I offered to take him to my house and patch him up. He agreed and thanked me. We got into my car and headed to my house. We didn't talk much in the car. When we did it was small talk. I learned that he was actually a pretty cool dude. I think he thought the same since he couldn't take his eyes off me. After that night we slowly became friends. It started off slow like waving in the hall or having small conversations during class. Then it picked up to hanging out during lunch or even after school. wasn't till June, two months before the tower was built and 5 months after i broke his phone that we hung out everyday. 

I never thought of myself as a man who could love another man, i liked women but he took my heart - however i was too scared to tell him that I liked him. Judging by what happen last night i will never get that chance. When I came too after driving for a bit I saw something on the road. Fallen tree! I swerved and just missed it. I stopped the car to catch my breath. Looking in the mirror i saw a dark figure appear ontop of the tree then quickly vanish into the evergreens. Swearing every bad word possible i gunned the gas pedal and went as fast as Mikes car could go; 150 miles an hour. The road to town was rather long and straight, wasn't till you got to the mountains that it began to twist and turn. Who was that figure, I hope it wasn't the same figure that took Mike.

I was out in the middle of Fogo Valley quite possibly with a deranged murderer on the loose; and I thought the bears were dangerous. However once I get into town ill have to notify the town hall about the down tree. I won't be able to get home easily if it stays there. Calming down from the recent event I remembered how mad Mike was when his phone dropped.

"You piece of shit, watch where your f**king going!" Mike screamed as the glass of his phone danced on the floor.

"I-Im so, oh god, sorry it was an accident! I didn't mean to-" I panicked while backing away.

"You are so going to get it buddy!" Aaron, Mikes good friend spoke.

Terror filled my veins as my eyes bounced around Mikes friend group. Taking one final terrified stare into Mikes eyes I said "Ill fix it- ill buy you a new one!"

Something within Mikes eyes seemed to have settled down, he seemed, for a moment, less hostile.

"And so, how are you going to do that?" He asked.

"I... I don't know but I will find a way! I promise" he smiled gently and said "sure, I'd love a new phone. End of the week meet me outside locker 1070". I nodded as the final bell rung. We parted and went to class.

--

It was quite a horrifying experience, while he was discussing the terms I could feel his friends eyes burn through me. I heard their knuckles crack. I ended up picking up his broken phone and keeping it, I still have it somewhere in my house. Once I came too again I saw the red blinking light of the railroad crossing signals. Slowing to a stop the train chugged along. The signals sung the traditional railroad crossing chime as the train went by.

By the time the train was half way through a black freight car had violently written white letters along it.

"Get off Fogo"

The radio in the car blasted on.

"When I open up and see, the person fallen here is me. A different way to be"

I knew this song, Mikes favourite song. Something must have happen to me in that house because for a moment I began to think that what was written on that freight car was directed to me; from none other than Mike himself. I miss him too much already that while the train chugged by and the song played I rested my head on the steering wheel and just cried.

I cried for Mike, Robin, my untold feelings, my parents for not being here, my loneliness, and worst of all, my mental feeding depression. I lost track of time because once the song ended and the train past I didn't stop crying until I nearly pasted out from hyperventilating. Upon regaining my composure I checked the radio and the time. Radio was off and the time was 15:32. November air made the valley chilly and cold. I continued to drive slowly while removing the stained tears from my face and Mikes seats.

In the tune of the song I sung

"You're everything to me..."