✔️| Stand By Me: Imagines and Preferences ('86)

#28 - Vern Tessio

The small town of Castle Rock stood still, no sound, no voice could be heard except the quiet chirping of crickets in the distance.

Although there was a small population of 1,200 people, it was like the whole world to you. And now you had to leave it behind, taking only the memory of it with you for safekeeping.

"Ready, (Y/N)?"

Your dad's voice snapped you out of your trance, almost startling you after the eerie silence that lay all around you.

"Yeah." Together you lifted a table towards a moving truck, and shutting the door. Your dad signaled the driver of the truck to go, and before you could even blink, the truck was out of sight, making its way toward Portland.

You never thought that you would be moving from Castle Rock. All of your friends had grown up with you here, and all of your greatest memories were made just within your backyard. It was hard to imagine a life outside of this small little town.

You had said your good byes to all of your friends, and all of your family that lived here. Tears were shed, and hugs were tightened, and it was time to leave it all behind.

Your mom and dad piled into the car, and turned on the engine, warming up the car and getting rid of all the cold October breeze.

Looking down at your shoes, you hesitate to get inside of the car. You look back from the car, and notice the door next to your house open, and a chubby boy within your age steps out, standing on his porch, waiting for you.

Vern.

"Dad, stop the car!" Luckily, you only made it out of the driveway by a little bit before the car sped up to mix in with the crowd of cars waiting to go to Portland.

You run towards Vern, the gravel crackling underneath your feet and the brisk autumn air blow harder than before.

You and Vern hugged harder than ever. Vern was your best friend, and you had vowed for him to be your last goodbye before you left Castle Rock for good.

"I'm going to miss you," mumbled Vern, his voice muffled underneath the  layers of sweaters you have on to keep warm.

"Me too, Verno. Me too."

Before you could stop yourself, a knot begins to tie in your throat and the tears start to come out. All of what you have been feeling for the past week of sentimental farewells pours out as you hug Vern.

He strokes your hair, and tries to calm you down. He starts to hum a little, the vibration of his voice runs through his chest, and starts to get you to stop crying.

When you wipe your eyes and your vision is not blurry anymore, you hold out your pinky.

"Promise that we'll keep in touch. We'll send letters and call each other, I don't care. I love you too much to let you go."

He smiles, and connects his pinky finger with yours.

"Always."

From a distance, you could hear two distinct honks, signaling that your time together is up, after all these years.

"I have to go." You step off his porch and walk away from the house that you have entered a million times, and from the boy that has been with you ever since you were born.

Opening the door of the car, getting in, and fastening your seat belt, you start to think of all the days spent wondering what was beyond Castle Rock.

This is it. This is how it all ends. This is how my adventure beyond begins.

Looking back once more, Vern still stands, watching you go. The moonlight shines brighter than ever, and even from a mile away do you recognize his face.

Only this time, it is shiny with tears as you pull out of the driveway towards a new life.

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