The goosebumps returned, and for a moment, as I closed my eyes, I swore I could smell the faintest scent of Axe body spray.
I’d sent him a gift set last Christmas, because he said he loved the ocean scent.I bought myself a bottle of the deodorant spray, not only because it was cheaper than my usualSecret, but because it made me think of him.
And maybe it did work better on my sweat than women’s deodorant...
Something about that scent felt important, but it faded when I opened my eyes and I was remiss to believe I wasn’t only hallucinating, but full on going delusional.
My mind might not have remembered being in love, but my heart...my heart ached at her words.
How could that be?
How could my memory tell me one thing but my heart another?
What body part did I believe?
“No, I mean, yes...maybe?I don’t know...”I said as the tears pooled in my eyes.
Endor wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close to his chest, and I lurched forward, my head in my hands.
Valory moved, and before long, she was beside me.She slid her arm around my shoulders, her fingers just brushing against Endor’s on my back.
He squeezed me tight.
“Whatdoyou remember?”Valory asked calmly.
“Start at the beginning,” Endor coaxed.
“We were friends, I know that much.But, like, online friends.”
Endor’s eyebrows furrowed.“Online friends?”
Valory rubbed my back.“Go on.”
“I guess...I was alone a lot.So was he.We met on Reddit, and it was like...like we just...clicked, you know?”
Endor grunted, his expression stoic as he shook his head.“The fuck is Reddit?”
“A hellscape,” Valory deadpanned, and I couldn’t help but laugh.It started deep in my gut until it escaped me with a life all of its own.
The situation itself was absurd.I knew that, but the comfort of being with them, like that...
It almost reminded me of being with my mom and dad.
Before my mother died.
Before my dad’s spirit died and left him a shell of the person I used to know.
“Tell me more about this Reddit friendship,” Val pushed.
Endor didn’t say a word, but he didn’t remove his hand, either.
“I guess we just talked a lot, you know.I don’t really remember much, but I know that we used to talk a lot.Like, for hours at a time.”
I didn’t miss the longing look in Val’s gaze.She looked at me the same way Endor did when I entered.
Like she wasmissingsomething.Or perhaps, someone...
I didn’t know the first thing about death from their perspective, but the fear ofleavingbehind people...
