𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

𝐮𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧

it had been a month. a month since calum had left to live his life in the big city. you couldn't go with him. you wanted to badly, but you parents wouldn't allow you to drop out of school, no matter how hard you begged. and even if they did, where would you go? calum was already long gone.

you were driving to school one cold morning, and were digging in the glove box for your defroster, when you cane across a small white box, with marigolds engraved on the front of it.

all of the memories rushed to your mind. the smell of his vanilla cigarets on a windy day, with his hand on your thigh. you couldn't ever get it back.

you picked up a cigarette out of the carton, and twirled it in your fingers. at last, a tear fell on it, getting the thick paper wet.

with a quick thought, you reached your hand back into the glove box. "maybe." you thought.

and you were right. there it was. right where he left it. his black lighter, with your initials engraved into it.

instantly you wanted to chuck it as far as you could, away from you. but you couldn't.

you remembered calum's warm embrace, and tears fell again. your heart throbbed for him again, wanting peace you hadn't felt in a long time.

looking at the cigarettes in your hand, you started the car. you were supposed to be at school by now. but you couldn't. you could take a sick day.

you drove to your first date with calum. the park.

there were kids playing in their jackets, and little boots. you remembered calum pushing you on the swing, and breaking your ankle when you jumped. though it hurt, you would do anything to do it again.

you got out of the car, and breathed in the cold air, letting it hit your face, making your body shake.

you thought for a few seconds, and decided to do it.

you took the cigarettes out of your pocket, and lighter, and looked at them both in your hands. if calum could do it. you could too.

you stuck the end of it in your mouth, and lit it.

taking one quick puff, the nicotine entered your lungs, the vanilla scent overwhelming.

tears streaming down your face, you did it again, and again, and again. until there was no more.

you coughed, and got back into the car. your face was frozen, and you couldn't feel your face. but even though calum was gone, you felt him there. the vanilla scent clinging to your clothes like it used to with him.

and instantly, it was like you had a piece of calum with you.

and in the blink of an eye, there you were, signing dropout papers, and getting on a plane.