Beyond What We Know [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 11 PART 1 - Forever Young

After we returned to the farm and changed into dry outfits, Lee gathered everyone in the large open space in front of the house and made sure we all had seats in the fallen tree trunks we use when we spend time together outside. They then proceeded to light the campfire and ran back inside to go get their guitar – we found it in one of our scavenge trips and Lee instantly fell in love with it.

"What about CK? Does anyone know where he is? When Lee and I left to go to the pond he was in the living room but I didn't see him there when I went to change", I questioned the group; having grown up with him constantly around, it's weird not to be with him, even when we're all together.

"Lee tried dragging him out here, but he said he's busy. He left the house shortly after you two and, as far as I know, hasn't come back yet", Diego let me know.

"I saw him in the shed a while ago, maybe that's got somethin' to do with it", Rico added.

I nodded slowly, "Alright, thanks, guys. I think I'm gonna go check on him. You guys can start without me, it's fine."

I stood up and made my way to the garage and around it, where the shed's located. The door was open, but CK wasn't inside, so I started looking for him. Suddenly, I heard pounding sounds, and wood hitting the dirt and gravel on the ground. I followed the sounds and what I saw had me dropping my jaw all the way down to my feet.

"A-Are those...?"

Apparently, CK was actually waiting for me to come look for him, because he turned around ever so calmly and completed my statement, "Our swings? Well, you tell me", and smiled.

A set of two swings Uncle Joe and Uncle Tom built for us when we were kids. Uncle Joe and CK would come with my mom and I to the farm every summer, so they both became part of the family. When we were 10, CK stayed with us for two weeks because Uncle Joe had a "business out of town to take care of". Little did we know that he was going to spend those two weeks in Eaglecreek Farm building the swings with Uncle Tom.

When we arrive at the farm that summer, we couldn't contain ourselves with how much joy our "new toy" brought us. We'd spend countless hours on the swings without getting tired. One time, the adults had to bargain with us so we'd come inside. We got ice cream that night, so I still believe we made a pretty good deal with them.

Eventually, not only did we not go to Eaglecreek as often as we used to, when did go we also didn't use the swings as much anymore. On the one hand, we were going through that phase where we "don't wanna play like children anymore"; on the other hand, though, part of me felt unbelievably sad to see the swings through the window, just sitting outside, moving back and forth by force of the wind. When we claimed the farm for ourselves after the outbreak hit, I would still swing some times, for good ol' times' sake, you know? But things started piling up, and then it wasn't just the two of us anymore, and I stopped. They were old, rusty and fragile. The wood beams were rotten and falling apart, the chains could barely hold my weight. It made it all the sadder, really.

But now... Now they looked brand new! I don't think it only took CK a handful of hours to completely restore the swings, so the slippery bastard must've been doing it for a while now.

"CK, I could've helped you! You didn't have to do all of this alone!"

"I wanted to do it for you, so I couldn't tell you about it", he chuckled. "Figured it'd help you cheer up and take your mind off of things. You know, by reliving good memories."

"Also because you wanted to swing too."

"Uhhh, well..." Ck scratched the back of his head as we both laughed.

"Are they finished?" I approached the structure, observing it from all angles.

"They sure are! I was just about to pick up the tools and put them back in the shed when you showed up. I thought for sure that it would take you a few more minutes to decide to look for me", he chuckled again. "But don't try it out without me! I'll be right back."

As CK rushed back to the shed to drop the tools, I just stood there admiring the repaired swings exactly like 10 year-old me admired the brand new version. I felt like a kid again, and it was amazing. The more I looked at every inch of it, every screw, every chain link, I relived every hour I spent swinging together with CK, laughing until our stomachs hurt and tears streamed down our faces, betting on who could swing highest or fastest – sometimes both, and we obviously ended up falling a few times. Spending the summer at the farm with all of them always made up for the other nine months of the year, no matter how bad they had been. And now I could feel that joy in my veins again. And it worked, I forgot about everything else around me for a little while and sat down on one of the swings.

"Hey! I told you to wait for me."

"Sorry, I couldn't resist", I laughed as he sat down next to me.

We started rocking ourselves back and forth slowly, looking up at the sky as the sun lowered itself towards the middle.

"So, you... Did this for me?"

Ck nodded, "I thought bringing back happy memories would help your state of mind."

"Did the others know you were doing this?"

"Well—"

"Wait! Is that why Lee sprung from the couch to come to the pond with me? To act as a distraction so you'd have more time!?"

"Uh, well, I... Yeah, in part. The other part is Lee actually also wanted to go."

"That's pretty smart."

"You're not mad, are you?"

"What? Why would I be? Look at what you've done, Connor. You breathed life into this entire thing after all these years! I'd be an asshole if I got mad at you for finding a harmless way to get me away from the house so you could do this beautiful work", I smiled at him and he smiled back, ever so softly. I really, honestly don't know what would be of me without CK here.

With the house casting shade over us, the warm breeze of late August brushed gently against my arms and face as I focused on my feet and stretched both legs out to keep the swinging motion going.

"Hey", I started, drifting my gaze towards CK.

"What's up?"

"Bet I can go higher."

"We both know you can't."

"Oh yeah?"

And just like that we, both grown adults, started swinging with increasing force, each trying to surpass the other as we erupted in laughter and shot daring looks at each other just like we used to do when we were little. God, it felt exactly like one of those days, and I caught myself wishing it would never end. The structure Ck built was much more sturdy and stable than the old one, and we were going all out. Nobody could stop us, so why not, right?

"I hope you know you're the one who's gonna help me fix this if we break it", CK's sentence was divided into sections as we swung in opposite directions and he only spoke when we met in the middle.

"Not if I can hide", mine came out the same.

"I'll find you!"

"I'll run then!"

"Ella!"

We just kept laughing. To be quite honest, I was running out of breath and my stomach was killing me, but complaining never even once crossed my mind. It was the most fun I've had in years and I was determined to enjoy every second of it. Eventually, we both slowed down and almost stopped, only using our feet on the ground to move slightly.

"We should join the others, otherwise Lee and Rico will come here and drag us back with them", CK said, chuckling afterwards.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we really should", I smiled as we stood up and began making our way to the front of the house. I must admit I looked back at the swings a couple of times. They truly are a part of us, a part of me; and what CK did made me really happy.