Oneshot Advent Calendar

December 15- Risk

"Students of Dalton Academy High School, we regret to inform you about the passing of one of your peers, Wesley Montgomery."

David hadn't gone to the assembly. He couldn't handle it.

He'd known before anyone else, because of the text message, the one that broke his heart again and again to read. Wes had told him there might be a risk.

He knew now he was under exaggerating. How he'd kissed him like it'd be the last time. How he'd said he loved him like it'd be the last time. How he'd hug him a bit too long. And he hadn't noticed, he hadn't worried, he thought Wes would be fine.

We regret to inform you
that earlier this morning,
Wesley has passed away.
He knew this was a risk
and left you a note, would
you like to read it?

What happened?

Did the surgery go wrong?

Please, I need to read it.

The surgery ended up
going well. However, Wesley
never woke up from the
anesthesia.

Here's his note:

David,
If you're reading this, I'm...
I can't write it, I can't. But
you know what I mean.
They told you. I'm so, so
sorry. There might have
been a slightly bigger risk
than I mentioned. Last time
I went under anesthesia, it
didn't go to well. But I had
no choice, I had to do this
and I couldn't do it without
it. This is going to be long.
I'm so, so, so, so sorry that
this is happening, that this
happened. Please don't
fall apart, and don't let the
others, either. They need
you. I need you. And I'm
so sorry this happened. I'm
crying just thinking of you
reading this, it's awful, and
I hope you never see this.
I don't want to die, I'm
terrified. I'm really, really
scared. I'm scared to die
but the more terrifying
thought is that you might
forget me. I want you to
move on if this happens,
if you see this, but please
never forget me. I'm so
sorry. I love you. I love
you more than anything
else in this world, or the
next world, or the world
before this. I love you.

He'd been rereading it all day, trying to find some hint, pleading that it was a prank, begging that he was still alive. But he wasn't.

-

Eight days.

Eight days later, he received a text.

xxx-xxx-2411

Is this David Thompson?

That depends, who's
asking?

He hadn't even realized what he'd quoted until they replied.

Oh, well sure, sir. I'm
Elliot Reed, I'm at your
service, sir. I have been
looking for you.

I'm getting nervous.

Sir, I heard your name
from Wes, he was my
best friend.

He left me your number,
it took me a while to
finally get the guts to
contact you.

Oh. He didn't say
anything to me.

I'm sure he did. Look at
his note, did he repeat
a word a lot?

David went back to look at it, scanning it.

Yeah. 'So.' As in, "I'm
so, so, so, sorry."

How many times did
he do that?

He looked through it.

Four. "I'm so, so sorry,"
"I'm so, so, so, so sorry that
this is happening," "I'm
so sorry this happened,"
and "I'm so sorry."

2 'so's, 4 'so's, 1 'so,' 1 'so.'

The last four digits of
my number. 2411.

David checked it, and sure enough, he was right.

Wow. Can't believe I
didn't notice that, I've
been trying to find clues
in his note ever since it
happened.

I don't think he meant
for you to find it alone,
I think he did it so we
could both figure it out
so you knew you could
trust me.

Sounds like something
he'd do.

I don't want it to be
true, but I know it is.

Yeah...

I know how you feel.

How do you two know
each other?

We grew up together
before my family moved
away. We kept in touch,
though. He's told me all
about his wonderful
boyfriend.

I was actually just going
to head down there, he
and I had a trip planned.
I was finally gonna see
him again and meet you
but I guess life has other
plans

I'm so sick of it tbh

Sick of what?

Death

My grandparents, my aunt,
my dad, my little brother, so
very nearly my mom and
now Wes

That's awful that's a
lot of people

Yeah

Wish I could have caught
a break just this once

I'm not used to dealing
with losses

No one in my family
has really died that
I'm close to

I mean my dad bailed
but he was an asshole
and that's different than
death

I'll give you a tip

Everyone says time
makes it better but it
doesn't

The longer you take to
deal with it the worse it
gets, you have to accept
it right away and then
you can start getting
better