In Loving Memory
Alfred F. Jones has always wondered what would happen if he were to disappear. If he were to suddenly leave town or get into a fatal accident. He had read once that it's normal to have these thoughts, to think about the reactions of your loved ones and blah blah blah. But Alfred didn't wonder about the immediate reaction that was obvious. His parents would cry and call the police, Mattie would drive around the entire city looking for him, friends at school would worry, and everyone else would gossip and make up stories. That's not the part that Alfred was so obsessed about. What he really wanted to know was what would happen after all that. Who would still care about him after a year? Two years? A decade?
Lord knows he couldn't count on his parents for that. They are barely here for him now. Maybe Matthew would but he'd probably only let himself think about his missing brother on his birthday or the anniversary of his disappearance, as a way to get through life normally. What Alfred wants is a person who'd never stop thinking about him or at least for more than once or twice a year. And it scared him that he didn't have anyone like that in his life.
Life in the middle of nowhere was really difficult. A small town life means that everything is everyone's business. That was one of the things Alfred hated about his life. Where's the privacy? It's one of the things that Alfred wishes for. Too bad high school didn't allow that. Don't get him wrong. It's not like Alfred was bullied or isolated or anything. The opposite really, he was outgoing and friendly with just about everyone. But that was the problem. No matter who he knew or how much he talked to them there was no depth in the relationship. No real connection, he was in a sea of strangers. Strangers that wanted to know all his dirty secrets like the time he punched a security guard or when he was caught with a bag of coke that wasn't his.
The point is that the lack of attachment was the best legitimate reason Alfred could find, the real reason was a gut feeling. Intuition told him he wanted out. So that's what he did. On February 11th he packed his bags and left to Boston. All he had was a gut feeling that it was time to go and he followed through.
It has been four months since Alfred has gone missing. The town was shocked, the police were at a dead end, and everyone mourned assuming he was dead. But after that nothing happened. Everyone went through the motions and moved on. Except for Arthur Kirkland. Arthur was a classmate of Jones, they weren't close, but that doesn't matter much. Arthur had always wanted to get closer to Alfred but there always seemed to be a wall around him, something that Arthur was too afraid to touch so he watched from afar. So when he had gone missing it really affected him. He felt regret, he felt responsibility, and–worst of all–useless. He couldn't do anything to find the lad and he couldn't stop the town from moving on. So he took it upon himself to care. It would be a bloody shame to let that boy be forgotten.
It has been seventeen months since Alfred had left. And although he doesn't regret his decision he felt the urge to go back home. To see with his own eyes the answer he's been looking for. It was winter break and Alfred took a vacation leave. He dyed his hair black and found a motel far away from home so he wouldn't get spotted. But it wasn't worth it, his family has moved away eleven months ago, yet Alfred stuck around anyway. He found a tombstone in the cemetery with his name on it. Alfred Fitzgerald Jones. 7/04/1996~2/11/2013. We will love and miss you forever.
"Hah! What a joke." he mumbled, kicking dirt over the ground where the empty casket should be. That's when his foot smashed against something hidden under a mound of dirt. When Alfred crouched down to check it out he found a little tin box. What the...who left this here? He reached out for the container and gently opening the lid, trying to make sure it doesn't break.
Inside he found a stack of letters, each with numbered corners and addressed to him. Curious and confused Alfred eagerly read letter #1.
Hello Alfred. I know this is weird but I wanted to write you a farewell letter. This is strange. However, I can definitely say I will miss you. Farewell lad. ~Arthur Kirkland
Normally Alfred wouldn't believe in a short, shallow letter but judging on the quantity of notes inside this person had to be serious. After reading in the shade for 30 minutes the letters have developed considerably.
Alfred, after talking with your brother I think that you and I could have been good friends. We have the same taste in music.
Al, these bloody wankers get me so frustrated sometimes…
I think I've figured out why I write to you...I think I really like you. It breaks my heart that I can never tell you this…
Alfred was shocked after reading the confession, it was so sudden and unexpected. Heh...I could see myself with a guy like this. That's when he spotted a blonde, emerald eyed teen trotting towards him. The moment he knelt down by the tombstone confirmed that he was the one.
"Hey." Alfred said as he stood above Arthur.
"A-A-Al... I mean, Alfred? Wait, where did you find that?" pointing to the letter box, defensively.
"The name's Riley Wickes now... Don't you have something to tell me?"
That's when Arthur flew into his arms attacking him with a strong hug. It felt like lovers were being reunited.
Yup, I can seriously see myself falling for this guy.
