AN: just so you know, this isn't canon with the rest of my fics. It's a separate thing. A completely spur of the moment thing (so forgive any spelling errors). I just... Something jogged a memory, one close to a few repressed ones, which try as I may I can't quite... Anyway, suddenly realised I could actually rather relate to John when he will have to deal with Sherlock coming back after 3 years. So this is kinda my wait of expressing... What I feel, what he would feel... Yeah. Sorry it's ridiculously short too.
As usual, I don't own.
After Three Years
After 3 years, a lot can change.
After 3 years, you get all too used to not having them around. To living without them.
You move on. You carry on with life; build a life without them. Maybe even get married.
After 3 years, you're a very different person to who you were when they knew you. You've grown, you've changed. They don't know you anymore.
Some of that's their fault. How can they not realise that leaving you in such a dreadful fashion would change you? Make you that bit harder. That bit older.
After 3 years, how can you just go back? Things will never be the same again, because you're not the same. For all you know, neither are they. You have to start from scratch. You have to start slow.
John slowly came back into the present, noticing how Sherlock's smug smile had slipped into one of uncertainty in the pause. He let out a weary sigh.
"It's going to take time, Sherlock."