There's an envelope under the mattress. It's old and water-stained, but the seal is unbroken. The handwritting is neat and familar to the young man, and as he sits down in the corner he rips it open and pulls out the letter.
...
It's raining, Zack.
...
I miss you.
...
It's Michael's first birthday today. Angie tried to make a special cake for him and nearly burned the house down! You should've seen it, man. There was smoke everywhere, and both Angela and Michael are crying and I'm running around trying to get the smoke detectors to stop and opening windows and doors. It was utter chaos.
...
Brennan's baby is a girl, Zack. She's the sweetest little baby I've ever seen, apart from my own of course. I still can't believe that Booth and Brennan have a kid.
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Booth asked after you yesterday. He's thinking of coming to see you, but it's Booth so I wouldn't get my hopes up.
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Sweets is getting married. Not to Daisy, thank God. No, he met someone out in the field, an artist like Angie. You'd like him, Zack, he's really great. Stereotypical, but we all love him.
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I miss you.
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I really do, man. It's insane how much I miss you.
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I got a call from Sweets yesterday. He thought it would be easier coming from a friend, rather than some administrator at the looney bin.
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You could've called me, Zack. I would've been there in a second. We all would've come. Why...why didn't you call?
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You didn't have to do it. I know you didn't kill that guy, Zack, Sweets told me. He was drunk at the time so he doesn't remember, but I know you didn't kill anybody.
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I would've made sure no one bothered you in jail. Booth would've made sure of it. You didn't have to fucking kill yourself, Zack.
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I hate you. I really, really hate you.
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When we sold the house I went to your apartment one last time. I...I found a photograph that I must've missed. It's of all of us at Booth's Chinese place. We're all smiling...
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Do you mind if that's how I remember you? Like the nerdy kid who watched reruns of Firefly and knew the answer to everything? Can I please just forget everything after that?
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I love you, Zack.
...
Dr. Jack Hodgins,
The Jeffersonian Institute
...
Dr. Michael Vincent Hodgins starts as the door opens, and an older woman with grey hair and a beautiful smile walks in. "What do you have there, sweetie?" his mother, Angela asks.
Michael holds up the letter. "It's from Dad, to that guy you used to work with."
Angela's face darkens, as it did every time her late husband was mentioned. She took the letter, and as she read it a tear fell down her cheek. Michael looked up at his mother, through the eyes so similar to his father's.
"Mom...will you tell me about him? Zack, I mean?"
Angela sniffed, and nodded, giving her son a dazzling smile. "Yeah, okay. Well...Zack was the most unusual person I've ever met. He was smarter than even your aunt Tempy! And...he was the nicest guy...Oh, and boy was he awkward!..."
... The End ...