Timelines Are Not Meant To Be Joined Together (SAMTBK Vol. 5)

Act 17: Max Has Questions

Max's P.O.V.

I leaned on the wall, and my left hand was getting all sweaty from being on my face in a frozen facepalm. Ironic, right?

I'm such a fool.

How did I get myself into this mess?

I know she's not going back to her apartment...

She's long gone...

I can't talk to her...

But I have so many questions.

Claire...

I have questions...

For you.

I took my hand off my face and looked at the ashes I was holding in my right hand. I picked them up while they were still hot. They were the ashes of Claire's letters. I'm not sure what to think of those, but it seemed like there was a lot she never got to say to me.

I walked outside.

It was near pitch black.

The moon was the only thing that gave light to this night.

There was a lot of wind... and the ashes blew out of my hand.

I watched them fly away. For them, it was so easy to let go.

But not for me.

It was the exact opposite for me.

I could never let go.

Not of Claire.

Not after all these years.

I looked up at the sky.

And then I noticed something...

There was a star in the sky.

And that was when it hit me.

I didn't have to let go.

I just had to write something down.

I ran inside and grabbed some paper and a pen.

I decided on a pen because I knew I wouldn't need to erase anything.

And then I quietly went into my room.

I lit the lamp at my desk and sat down after I closed the door.

And I began writing.

Claire,

Writing that word just made be nervous.

Would this really work?

When you left, it made us all sad.

It made me sad... and angry... and hurt... and confused... I just don't understand all that's happening.

My mind hasn't left that moment.

If you wanted to scar me, that's perfectly fine.

I understand that you were angered by what I did.

I should've never done it.

And I understand if you chose to leave the picture forever.

But I have questions.

Only you can answer them.

1. Why would you leave us all even though it was just me that hurt you?

2. Why would you be so mad at change. Serenity's starting to understand how you feel, but I don't. What's so wrong with change? What's making you  hate me?

3. What must I change about myself for you to be happy again? I miss your smile. It always brought happiness to everyone.

4. This has happened between us before, and I thought we both learned. Why haven't we? Why haven't we gotten past this whole avoiding each  other block in our friendship?

5. Are we doomed to fight each other forever, Claire?

I wrote her name a second time...

Did I intend this?

I don't even know...

6. Why weren't you here for us earlier? Why did you decide to come only now?

7. And why did you leave only a few days late?

8. Are you still on Earth? If so, why aren't you on Neol? Can you not return to your planet.

I mean, I'm not asking you to.

I like having you here.

I mean, we all like you here.

But you know, this is about the problem between me and you.

9. Is there any way you'll come back? We need you, Claire. More than you'll ever know. It's only when you're gone does it really show.

10. Is there any way we can get along again? Forgive each other? Like the old days?

If so, I promise I'll do better. I'll stop with the bad Neol jokes that apparently weren't much of a joke at all and actually came out as insults. I'll stop trying to take charge, at least while you're around. Justin may be controlling, but when you left, it was me and Serenity who kept the team together. Unlike Serenity, though, I just let it get to my head.

What I'm trying to say is...

I want to fix these loose ends with you, Claire.

I'd prefer if you'd answer in person, but you might not want to.

But even if you never answer...

I have had and always will have the honor to have been called a friend by you.

That was probably one of the best days of my life.

I just want you to know that.

I think that's all I can say at the moment.

With all that I have being sent off to you,

-Max

The way I ended the letter was the most accurate ending to a letter I ever wrote.

I really am sending all that I have to her.

All my feelings, requests, emotions...

I just poured everything out in the form of this letter.

I opened the window and folded up the note. I put it in an envelope and wrote Claire's name on the front.

And then I let the wind blow it away.

I hope she gets the message.

~~~~~~~~~~

Max is writing a letter!

Correction: HAS WROTE

Hopefully, I'll be a nice author and do something good about how this ends.

And then hopefully you won't hate me.

That's all I have to say.

Bye!