A Byler story for those who like their love messy, but worth the damage. Years after Hawkins, everything is different. New cities. New lives. New people. And yet, some feelings refuse to stay buried. When Mike publishes a book that says more than it ever should have, he's left to face the truth. A reunion follows that neither of them are ready for. Relationships strain. Emotions spiral. And every choice made in the aftermath leaves damage behind. Because sometimes love doesn't save you-sometimes it ruins everything first. This fanfic is for those who felt we just didn't get enough from Byler; for those willing to make the pain worse before the story finally settles.