mattia sat at his dining table with his mom and dad, not paying any attention to what they were saying. he'd reset his phone for he fourth time that night, he thought his phone would refresh and a stream of new messages from kairi would flow through.
but they never did.
his mom was tuned into the tv that had been blaring from the kitchen, 'mattia polibio! put your phone down and eat your dinner, kairi will respond soon.' his mom sternly reassured making mattia let out a huff but he did as he was told.
mattia picked at his food, not being hungry at all from the anxiety that ran through his body, he just lifted his head and watched the news. 'they're working on a new system for it now, but for now breaking news. this evening, in the streets of atlantic city,'
'oh no. that's close matti, i need you to be careful' his mom interrupted as the tv changed to a clip of what seemed to be a murder scene.
'according to witnesses, a local high school boy, kairi cosentino, 17, was found collapsed on the street with three stab wounds to the chest-,'
mattia's eyes widened. he felt as if he couldn't breathe. a picture of a smiling kairi was presented on the screen while the banner read, 'highschooler found dead'
mattia refused to believe it. he felt as if his world had flashed before his eyes, every sound being muffled out and he felt as if every action was slowed down. all he could hear was the tv telling him about his lover's death.
he stood up from his chair quickly, walking towards the tv to see if he heard everything correctly.
'he was reportedly found unconscious and in critical condition, and was immediately transported to the hospital, but was confirmed dead soon after'
mattia started breathing rapidly, he grabbed onto his shirt as a way to regulate his erratic heart beat, what? not my kai. no no, that's not him. kairi-
'the perpetrator, who fled the scene, was apprehended and confessed to their crimes. rumored to be the killer of all the murders committed earlier this summer. the police are collecting eye witness accounts and-,'
mattia turned away from the tv, ignoring his parents questions that seemed to flying at him like crazy. his entire body felt weak as he started walking to his room. guilt immediately washing over him, if i would've just gave him a ride... if i would've just persisted and gave him a fucking ride. i did this, i did this to kai. i killed kairi.
mattia walked down the stairs to his room and once he reached the last step, his body gave out. he felt like he killed kairi. in his mind, if he'd never went on that stupid date, kairi would still be alive.
he clutched his phone in his hand as he laid on the cold floor. tears pooling his eyes as he continued to imagine what kairi's last moments were like. kairi suffered, kairi's life was taken from him and mattia wasn't there to protect him. no one was there to protect him.
mattia shook violently as he let out loud sobs, his mind clouded with guilt and immediate sadness. he tried to get up but just ended up on his his knees, he was hunched over in a ball just letting out wails of heartbreak.
kairi was the best thing that ever happened to him. that might sound exaggerated but it's true, nothing could replace the joy kairi gave him. he cried, and cried, and cried until he physically couldn't. all he could do was rock his body side to side, praying that this was all a bad dream.
he promised he'd let me know before he died... but he didn't know he was going to die this way. it was taken from him, breaking the promise him and mattia vowed to keep.
