Things We Never Finished [Prequel to TICS]

I, Miles Mercer, always thought adulthood would feel lighter than this. I pictured myself young and free, living loudly before life asked me to settle, before responsibility showed up early and uninvited. College was never an option-I couldn't afford it-so I worked instead, one job bleeding into another, paying bills that never seemed to shrink. My parents checked out long before I did; everyone was left to fend for themselves, and with older brothers already fighting their own battles, I learned early how to stand alone. At night, I worked at a bar, and sometimes-when my boss was in a good mood-he'd let me play. Just me, a guitar, and a room that slowly learned my name. The crowds grew. The tips got better. People started coming just to hear me. That's when I knew I couldn't keep doing this halfway. I needed to chase it fully. And somewhere between wanting more and needing escape, I met Violet-the college girl who walked into my life in winter right before everything stopped.