I Will Rake Away The Fallen Leaves Of Last Summer's Pain

After summer break, everything is the same; more or less. Neteyam randomly stopped talking to him one day. He cut ties like it was nothing, seemingly without any given reason. Ao'nung tries to act unfazed. It happens - sometimes friendships simply mellow out. Even the close ones.

He has enough problems to deal with already anyway. His alcoholic mother, unpaid bills, school, and the failing grades that come with it. At least Rotxo is still there.

Tsireya urges him to reconnect. Her suggestion makes everything better. And worse. Ao'nung is not prepared for the avalanche that is about to hit him. He is not prepared for all of the confusing, foreign, and crushing feelings that come with it, either. He starts having weird dreams; about living and dying. Drowning and surviving. He hates having to deal with all that, so he doesn't. Instead, he focuses on holding his best friend's hand

This story is by "I Will Rake Away The Fallen Leaves Of Last Summer's Pain" by MyAdorableOne on Ao3 (ArchiveOfOurOwn) (I did have permission to repost this on here!!)