We Come Alive 3

"Whats it like?"

Saturday afternoon, instead of doing anything productive, Stephen and Andrew walked to Dunkin' Donuts and had breakfast before they spent the entire rest of the morning just walking around their part of Dallas that they lived in.

They were currently walking to a corner store together so they could hang out in there. Stephen was throwing his keys up in the air and catching them as they walked.

"How many months in are you?" Stephen asked, swinging his keys around in his hand. "Six? Five?"

Andrew laughed before holding up three fingers. "Only three and a half, buddy. I'm not that far yet. Still got a ways to go."

"Alright." Stephen smiled. "You're gonna be an inspiration for the ages. When you were on the top of the world and fell right off, just to climb back to the top like nothing ever happened."

Andrew chuckled. "Cause I'm in constant pain. Both physical and emotional. At first, every step felt like hell. It was like I was standing on glass everyday. It hurt, it hurts. The physical pain isn't a problem. I can take the physical pain, I can take pain. I knew that was never going to be a problem."

The two stopped at the end of the street and stood at the corner waiting for the green light to change to a red one so they could cross.

"But the emotion and mental pain." Andrew spoke honestly, looking over to Stephen. He squinted his eyes since the sun was beaming in their faces. "There's no preparing for that. No doctor, no documentary, no online article can prepare you for that. It's sucks, man. It just sucks, you know? Just to know that it's summer and football camp and conditioning is starting just sucks. It just sucks to know I should be on a college campus field right now and to know I'm not and instead I'm going to physical therapy every night? It just knocks the life outta you."

Stephen nodded understanding what he meant. "It must be frustrating. I know that you're use to everything being fast pace and now this whole process is slow. It makes your whole life pause while the rest of the world keeps going."

Andrew nodded agreeing with him before leading him across the street since the light had turned red.
Right when they got to the other side, Stephen nervously coughed as he noticed a girl walking towards them as she walked out of the corner store that they were about to walk inside of.

Andrew looked up and smiled seeing Madison walking up to them. "Hey." He spoke. "How are you?"

Madison smiled widely as she held onto the white plastic bag that was in her hand. "I'm good. How are you two?"

Stephen just gave her a forced smile and muttered good before he walked inside the store. He expected to see Andrew right behind him, but he wasn't. Stephen sighed as he walked through the isles of the corner store until he was in the back where there were the drinks in the wall fridges. After about a minute of looking, Stephen heard he door jingle from someone coming inside. Stephen stood still as he continued to look over the drinks and decide which one he wanted.

"There you are." Andrew breathed. "Why'd you walk off like that?"

Stephen snickered as he opened one of the fridges and pulled out a pop bottle. "Because last time I checked, you and Madison aren't on good terms. Actually, last I heard you talk about her was when you called her a raging bitch after you went to prom with Manny. So," Stephen turned around to look him in the eyes. "What's up with that?"