Brian's Letters To Matthew

Zacky couldn’t stop looking at his new engagement ring. Jimmy made it all by himself from his metal shop class in school. He took the gemstones from necklaces he doesn’t wear anymore and used them into a silver colored ring. Zacky thought it was so much better than any ring Jimmy could have ever bought.

“What’s that Big Brother?” Mattie asks as he climbs onto Zacky’s bed.
“It’s a ring,” Zacky answers, his voice filled with joy, “Jimmy made it for me.”
“Couldn’t he just buy one?” Mattie asks.
“He could,” said Zacky, “It means more to me that he made it with his own hands.”
“It’s really pretty,” said Mattie.
“It sure is,” Zacky replies.
“You know I’ve been wondering,” said Mattie, “You and Jimmy are a lot like Matt and Brian in the journal. What if Jimmy goes away like Matt? Like destiny or something?”
Zacky’s lips press into a thin line, “I never thought of that.”
“I wonder what happened,” Mattie thinks out loud, “A car accident? A sickness? …or what if Matt just left?”
This caught Zacky’s attention, “Left?”
“You know,” Mattie replies, “Break up.”
“Oh,” Zacky responds, depression settling in.

“Boys!” Mrs. Baker calls out, “Time for school!”

---x---

Zacky was at his locker and still felt like crap. He gets a hug from behind.
“Morning Beautiful,” Jimmy greets.
“Hey,” Zacky replies.
“What’s wrong Baby?” Jimmy asks.
“It’s nothing,” Zacky answers, “Mattie said something and it’s eating at me. It’s shouldn’t though, I mean he’s young and didn’t mean anything by it but…”
“What did he say?” Jimmy asks.
“He said we were like the couple in the journal,” Zacky answers, “and was thinking out loud about what happened to Matt and… and…”
Jimmy turns Zacky around to face him, “Babe, listen, yes we’re young and in love like them but know that I don’t plan on going anywhere. I plan on marrying you, having kids with you, and spending the rest of my life with you.”
“I know,” said Zacky, “I’m sorry. It just scared me stupid, ya know?”
Jimmy hugs Zacky, “I know Baby, I know.”
“I love you Jimmy,” Zacky says as he hugs his fiancée.
“I love you too Zacky,” Jimmy replies before the bell rings.

---x---

Dear Matthew,

I remember the first month of my sophomore year being pure hell. The only thing that helped was your phone calls. I remember you sometimes sang me to sleep. You have such a wonderful talented voice. I’d sell my soul to hear your voice again, to see your face again, to have you in my life again.

It didn’t help that I couldn’t see you on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and practically all of Christmas. I spent Halloween handing out candy to other children while babysitting my baby sister. I was hoping you might make a surprise visit, but you got so busy that I spent the night missing you. After trick-o-treating ended, I ate all the rest of the candy I felt very depressed. I kept hoping to see you. When Thanksgiving came, it was a bummer too. You called me, you couldn’t make it because of the flu. You insisted I stay home because you didn’t want me sick. If it wasn’t for you pleading and begging I stay home, I would of ran to you and stayed by your bedside. I was missing you like crazy. I felt so bummed out that I stayed in my room. No matter how many times Mama Suzy checked on me, I still wasn’t hungry. I hugged my pillow as I laid there, wishing I could be in your arms. Remembering this brings back that familiar pain.

Christmas wasn’t that much better, but I did get to see you for 2 minutes. I got to exchange presents with you. I had my present all wrapped up, probably because I was so excited to see you. Did you ever open it to see it was a SNES? I knew you love video games and I knew your parents couldn’t get you one. Did you like the games I got for it too? I never found out because I never asked. When I see you again I didn’t want to do anything to ruin it. I still have the giant teddy bear you gave me. I’ll admit even though I’m a grown man now, I still hold it at night.

After those two minutes, I didn’t see you until Valentine’s Day. Which, as I found out, was quite an important day for me.

With all my love,

Notes

Thoughts??