Aiden sat on his porch as the slight wind ruffled his hair. His blue jeans looked black in the orange, tired sunlight of the evening. He held his phone in one hand, locking and unlocking it as he waited for Nathan to show up. For about what seemed the fifteenth time he picked up his phone to check the time, 7:20pm. He looked up to see Nathan's car pull into the driveway. Aiden jumped of the porch and walked towards him.
"Sorry I'm late. My mom was on my nerves." Nathan said.
"Nah it's okay." Aiden said as he got into the car. He put on his seatbelt as he asked Nathan where they were going.
"Somewhere." He replied. Changing the gear to reverse he pulled out of the drive way and drove towards the local highway. About 30 minutes later Nathan parked the car by a lake side. A single bench sat under a tall ancient looking tree. The setting sun's orange light glimmered on the surface of the water. A single street light stood next to the bench, illuminating the area in its 5 feet radius. The sight was simply calming and beautiful.
"How did you find this place?" Aiden asked as he stepped of the car.
"I've only come here twice. I stumbled across it when I lost my way. The second time I came back here I saw Kayley sitting right here." Nathan explained as he slowly walked towards the bench. He sat on the left end and kept the right side empty for Aiden. "She sat right there. Her eyes looked heavy. She looked so startled as she saw me. Almost as if she were exposed or something."
"It was her safe haven." Aiden completed for Nathan. Aiden looked into the distance staring at the tiny waves in the water due to the soft wind, and the bird that hopped away looking for food.
"I'm so sorry for your loss Aiden. I don't know much about this whole mourning process but I know its gonna take time. You'll heal one day." Nathan said breaking the silence.
"I don't want to move on though. She went through so much for me, hurting is the least that I can do to repay her." Aiden replied, a warm tear rolled down his cheek.
"Kayley was so much different than any of us. She was too good for us even. I'm glad she chose to leave our group. But from what I know of her, she would want you to remember her in happiness, not in vain." Nathan calmly explained, hoping his dear friend would understand. Aiden pulled out his cellphone which illuminated at the sudden movement. The lockscreen shined bright with a beautiful picture of kayley in the school fields, leaning back on her arms, her blown away from her face and the soft golden glow of the sunlight on her skin. He was in love with her, but now she was gone and there's nothing he could do about it. Aiden sighed deeply and turned to Nathan, "let's go back." Nathan nodded and stood up heading towards his car. Aiden started walking towards the edge of the water and picked up a stray stone. He clutched the grey stone in his fist for a moment and then tossed it into the water body. Nathan fired up the engine and Aiden took a seat in the car. He raised his hands to his face and dragged them down along his skin.
"Gosh I miss her so fucking much dude. I miss her so much. I just want to wake up from this elaborate fucked up dream next to her and tell her how much I lover her."
