i look up at the night sky.
it’s bright.
so many stars.
the brightest are red and pulsing.
others surround them like beacons in the dark.
i reach up to touch them.
they don’t burn me.
it’s the surface of a lake.
the stars ripple.
they laugh.
they howl.
they sing.
they say
(BrotherSonLoveFriend)
and
(packpackpack)
and it hurts.
it hurts.
it hurts because i can’t find them.
i can’t reach them.
i can’t touch them.
these stars are
“Hey,” Kelly says, and I say “Hey” back.
He’s smiling, and it might be the best smile I’ve ever seen.
I dreamed of this, I think. Once.
It’s familiar, like we’ve been here before.
“What is this?” I ask as we walk through the woods.
He laughs, taking my hand in his. “It’s nothing. Just… why do you ask so many questions all the time?”
I bump my shoulder against his. “I need you to come with me. That’s what you said. You have to know how that sounds. All mysterious.”
“It’s… goddammit. I’m not trying to be mysterious.”