The Here And After

Three

Playlist

Somewhere Only We Know - Lily Allen

Fight Music - D12

Don't Stop - 5SOS

Overdone - XXYYXX

THREE

|Ethan|

I put my hands in my pockets as I made my way home after walking Rosie home. I stare straight ahead, one earphone dangling down my neck while I walk to the beat of Good Life by One Republic. I raise my chin, I brush my hand through my curly brown hair. I secretly look at girls around me, their appreciative stares boosts my confidence. I walk around the corner and visit my favorite coffee shop Claire's Café, the smell of fresh coffee beans greet me as I enter through the door.

"My boy, want the regular again?"

Gaskarth, the old man who runs this shop has been here for forty years. He's a sweet loving person, sometimes I call him Pops heh.

"Yes please. Thank you."

I smile at him and sit down on one of the tables near the window. I wonder why I like Rosie, is it her smile, her laugh, her constant daydreaming? I wonder what she day dreams about. Whenever she does that, she looks up, her face full of hope and determination while her brown eyes light up with joy. She smiles to herself so sweetly while her hair falls over her shoulders. Sometimes I even wish that she's thinking of me.

"Here ye go son. Yer favrite."

Gaskarth puts the cup of coffee onto the round wooden table. He smiles warmly to me and sits down on the opposite chair.

"You've got a lot on yer mind today huh son. It's a girl isn't it?"

I grin and shook my head in his direction. I look up and meet his soft blue eyes and his face being lit up by his smile.

"Yer in love aren't you boy? I know that look plastered on yer face. Claire always have that look whenever she sees me."

He grins, his wrinkles forming near his eyes. I take a sip of coffee and clear my throat. Claire died when I was still young, the last time I saw her was the day my father brought me here. I remember her giving me cookies every time we stop by.

"Do you miss her?"

I ask Gaskarth softly, I stare into his eyes lost in his thoughts.

"Not a day goes by that I miss Claire."

He turns his head to look at the portrait of his wife near the counter. I know how he feels, losing someone that means everything you is like losing your heart and you try to live everyday of your life without getting attached.

"How did you get her heart, Gaskarth? How could you get someone to love you back?"

He stares at me with a look of understanding and wisdom. I shake my head at him, showing him how confused I am, about me, Rosie and the possibility of an "us."

"Son, in love you do not think about yourself. You think about what makes her happy and content. Sometimes you have to let go of the idea of her being yours and focus on what she needs. If she needs love and tender affection you give it to her, even if you have boundaries. You'll try to pass those lines just to make her happy, just to see her eyes light up and her lips part to smile. Even though you know that she will never be yours, you still give your piece of your heart to her even though you know that she won't give a piece of her heart back. Love is selfless. Love is real."

I stare at Gaskarth with understanding eyes and an open mouth. He nudges my chin upwards to close my mouth. I stare outside the window, the thoughts in my head going wild. My eyes droop and my heart fell, the possibility of her not loving me back is not rare. Gaskarth coughs as quiet as he could.