Good Enough (Scomiche)

Ch 3. Remembering

A/N another shortie - yay for filler. The next one is going to be a long one though. I'm still debating over if I should post the next one today or wait until tomorrow? Hmmm ... We shall see.

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I awoke alone. 

I always woke alone, but that morning it was harder than most. There was no subtle sound of another's breath, no warm body next to mine...   just empty space.

Had it all been merely a dream?! Really!? No, it couldn't have been. It would have been too cruel. My fragile mind would have shattered. 

It had felt real. I could still feel his smooth skin beneath my fingers, I could still feel him surrounding me. I could still smell him all over me. 

My heart felt torn as my hand reached out and found nothing but cold sheets. 

My tears had fallen so frequently, that their presence didn't even register. I always cried for him. That was nothing new. 

I refused to move. I refused to leave my den of comforter and blankets. I felt more lost than I ever had, even worse than I had the day he left me. I'd had hope, but it was gone. HE was gone. 

I don't know how long I lay, curled tightly, my eyes pressed shut... the tears escaping from beneath my lashes, my heart melting inside of me. 

In reality, it wasn't too long, but minutes felt like hours.

A hand on my shoulder shook me from my pain. I held my breath as I opened my eyes.

There he was, his face full of concern. 

There was a dip in the bed as he sat next to me and pulled me immediately into his arms. "I didn't think you'd wake up before I got back. I left a note in the kitchen." 

He kissed my forehead as I cried. 

I almost burst out laughing. 

I was beyond torn. I was feeling too many things at one time: happy to see him, still frightened for my own sanity, confused at his presence, relieved that it hadn't all been simply a dream, and already back in love with the man holding me tight against him. 

Then again, had I ever NOT been in love with him? 

"I went to get some of my stuff from Zoe's. I didn't want to wake you. I'm sorry, Scott. I'm right here." 

He was there. 

He was. My mind hadn't been simply tormenting me. Mitch was really back. 

Mitch was really mine again. 

Mine

~

Things were interesting at first. It was a strange dynamic to start with, but we slid right back into place slowly.

Mitch wanted to know about everything that he had missed during those 6 years. I explained college and my big break shooting an album cover for an up and coming band that had ended up being the next big thing. He wanted to see my work, hear all of the stories. 

He asked about men in my life, and I could see the pain in his eyes when I gave him an honest count. He didn't get mad just nodded in quiet acceptance. I asked him if he'd had any other lovers. He kind of laughed and shook his head no. He told me there would never be anyone else for him, only me. I felt a bit guilty after that statement, but he'd DIED. How can you expect someone to know that isn't permanent? 

He had also apparently missed more than just me and my life. He needed a catch up on tv shows and social media and new music. Apparently he'd been a bit out of touch with pop culture. 

Well, that put some theories to rest and just created new ones. 

I let an entire week pass before I dared to ask any questions. 

I was too happy just being with him. I didn't wake up alone anymore, I woke up in his arms. I didn't want to ruin it. I wasn't ready to fight with him yet, but my mind was beginning to fill in blanks. I'd come up with some of the most ridiculous answers. 

Mitch had met someone else, and ran away with him. Mitch had been part of some secret society like the mafia. Mitch was a murderer and he needed to fake his own death to escape the cops. Maybe he saw something he wasn't supposed to see and was fleeing the mob. 

Yeah, I was really going crazy. 

So I finally had to ask. I had to.

"Mitch..." 

I swear he knew what I was about to ask. I could see it in his eyes as he looked up at me from across the table. 

"Yes?" 

"Where were you?" I hesitated before I actually got it out, but I needed at least something. Even a vague answer would help. Something. ANYTHING. 

He put his fork down and looked at me for a second. 

"I was in trouble." 

"What...kind of trouble?" 

"I knew they were going to find me, I knew it. I had to leave." 

"Who? Why?" 

"I can't tell you, not yet." 

"Why couldn't you tell me then!?" 

"Because I love you. I couldn't stand the thought of you getting hurt. Especially not because of me." 

"You're not, like... in trouble with the law or anything... right?" I was confused and any answer seemed absurd, so why not a convict? 

He laughed a bit. I enjoyed the sound of it. I was enjoying the little things about Mitch more than I ever had. His laugh was so odd, yet so wonderful. It kept me distracted. 

"No, I'm not in trouble with the law. Some things happened that I will tell you about, eventually." 

"Alright..." I didn't want to push him. Besides, at least he'd confirmed he wasn't a mass murderer. That was comforting. It was a start. 

We went back to our food for a bit until I found myself staring at him again. I had been doing that a lot too. He always shifted under my gaze, and would blush in the most perfect way before raising his eyes to mine. 

"Will you let me photograph you?" 

I think that surprised him. He blinked a few times at me. "Why would you want to take pictures of me?" 

"Because... you're the only thing worth remembering." 

I didn't realize I'd said anything profound. I had no clue my words meant anything, until I saw the tears in his eyes as he looked at me. 

I had only spoken the truth. Mitch had always been the only thing worth remembering. Everything else had seemed pointless. 

He agreed. 

Those pictures are the best I've ever taken and to this day, I have never shared them with anyone else. 

Just like Mitch.