The Gold and the Forest

XXXVIII

Chapter 38: I Came to See You

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It was a sweet October day. Vivi looked up at the leaves showing their age, turning from lush green to an array of autumnal colors. Leaves graced the ground and crunched against Carl's shoes as he stepped towards her. She held up the bouquet of white chrysanthemums. He gave her an appreciative smile.

"Special day." Her voice was soft.

He nodded, looking ahead, his eyes glazing over for a moment. She slipped her hand into his. He came back to Earth and they entered the cemetery.

The graves were withered with age, and there were a few gnarled trees dotted around, years of history in them. Their leaves were scattered about the place. They walked for a few, the sky a clear blue. Finally, Carl came to a stop in front of a certain stone plate. He squatted down, putting a hand over the cold stone.

Vivi stayed behind, flowers cradled in her arms.

"Hey, mom." He whispered. "I'm here again."

Vivi read the name. Lowell Forrest.

Carl turned to Vivi, and she stepped forward and kneeled down next to him, putting the flowers in front of the grave.

"Hello, Mrs. Forrest." Vivi greeted. "I'm here today for the first time, but I hope to be here next year. And for many years to come, if Carl lets me."

Carl gave her a mildly irritated look but gave way to a smile.

"Cricket brought a girl." Carl said.

Vivi snickered at him. "He did indeed."

Carl and Vivi continued to talk to the grave. They talked to each other. If the stones did not allow sound, the trees carried their voices from their branches to their roots. The roots talked to the bones, and another story resounded in the great old tree. The bones did not feel so alone after that. Even when the living moved on, the trees will remember. Stagnant in their place, they are patient with the world.

You were the best.

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"Last day of school." Min stepped next to him under the shade of the front entrance, looking out into the courtyard. "Did you get the stuff you needed?"

Senior year. Last, last day of school.

Carl looked at her, her face shadowed blue by the sky. She looked alive.

"Yeah." He sighed.

"Are you sure?"

He remained silent.

"You look a little lost."

He stepped forward, walking for a bit. "Walk with me."

She walked with him. The wind blew, the clouds came, and drops of rain came from the sky.

"It's raining, you know." Min tugged on his shirt to make him stop. "We'll catch a cold."

He turned around, watching the big droplets splash onto her shirt.

He wondered if he would see her again. He wondered where he was heading. It was things he never wondered about because he didn't want to. He ran and ran because if he ran fast enough he wouldn't have to think.

"C'mon, Wolfie." She laughed.

"Don't." His voice was cluttered with emotion.

She stopped. Her hair was getting damp. She stared at him in the rain.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly. She tried again, louder. "What is wrong?"

"The last day," He swallowed. "I came to see you."

Her head whirled.

What about Vivi?

He looked like he wanted to embrace her. His face contorted. He looked down at the floor. She stood there, unyielding.

"I know you want me to leave." She yelled over the rain. "But you're my friend."

Friend.

"I know." He whispered.

"Let me go." Her voice coursed with old pain. "Set yourself free."

He made a move towards her before restraining himself, turning on his heel, and running away. She stared at his back, turning smaller and smaller, tears streaming down her face. It was the last day. They were growing up.

He ran until he felt pain in his feet, and he stopped, running his hand through his wet bangs and brushing them back.

And he let his safety net go. 

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