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FIVE MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Alex is sitting on a swing. He slowly moves slightly forward, then back, then forward. He continues, nervously waiting. When he asked Bryce's mom if he could get Bryce to meet him here, he didn't really believe it would happen. But by the evening he got a text from Bryce's mom that Bryce would "take a run" and meet him at midnight.

"Alex?" Alex is caught off guard and nearly falls off the swing.

"Bryce?" Alex stands up and from the dark he sees Bryce walk towards him.

"Hey." Bryce is looking completely normal, hair perfectly styled, and a button-down and slacks.

"Hey." Alex feels very awkward and uncomfortable right now, and he doesn't know why. "So you're leaving in the morning?"

"Yeah." Bryce doesn't know what to say to Alex right now.

"Are you excited?" It's the only thing Alex can think of saying.

"Not exactly." Bryce walks over and they both sit on the swings.

"Remember the first time we met here?" They look over to the large tree.

"Yeah… that feels like an entirely different life."

"Well it kinda was." They look over to each other. "You were a completely different person."

"And so were you." Bryce smiles looking at Alex.

"So…" An awkward silence fills the air.

"I'm sorry about everything." Bryce blurts out. "About everything from our first time here to my dad. I'm just so so sorry." Bryce is tearing up. "I just really wish…" He can't continue, tears running down his face.

"I know. I know that you regret everything, but I don't. If none of that happened then none of this good stuff would've happened. I will always be grateful for meeting you."

"But if I never met you then maybe you would've…"

"No." Alex interrupts him. "If I never met you I would still be living the same boring life with no friends. Because of you, I've learned what it feels to love someone. Because of you, I've opened up and become the person I was meant to be. Because of you, I came out to my father, and now we are closer than we've ever been."

"You came out to your dad?" Bryce smiles a little. "I'm so happy for you."

"I just wish you could've had the same experience."

"Same. My dad won't even acknowledge me anymore. He thinks I've betrayed him or something."

"Well I can only hope going across the country and far from him will help you. I truly hope that you get to be out and happy."

"Thanks. Same for you. I really hope we can leave here tonight and move on. I don't want you to worry about me. Just go onto the next chapter in your life. One where you go out on first dates. Kiss at the door. Where you can introduce him to your parents and you can meet his. I want you to have it all. That's all I've ever wanted."

"That really means a lot." Alex begins to tear up. "But I don't know if I'll ever be able to move on from you."

"You have to. I can't bare to think about you waiting and hoping for me, for things between us. You need to forget about me."

"How?" Alex starts to cry.

Bryce grabs Alex's face and looks him in the eyes.

"I wish I had the answer. Any answer. I don't even know if I'll be able to. I honestly think I may be alone forever because I will never find a person as amazing as you. But you can. You deserve far better than me. You deserve a man that can give you everything you want. A man that has his own shit together. Someone that is strong enough to support you. Right now that is not me, and it may never be me."

"That's not true!" Alex jumps in and stands up. "You are the strongest person I have ever met. You have made it through more in 20 years than most people do in a lifetime. I believe in you and who you become. You are going to become the best man ever. And don't even, for one second, believe otherwise. I expect to see you again in however many years and you to be happy, successful, and yourself. Because who you are is amazing." Bryce stands up and they just stare at each other.

Bryce is about to say something but Alex steps forward and grabs Bryce by the head, kissing him. Bryce wraps his arms around Alex and pulls his body in closer. As they kiss Alex runs his hands through Bryce's hair one last time. Everything seems to slow down in the world. Their entire relationship flashes through their minds. The good The bad. The maddening. The excellent. It all rushes through their bodies. For just a few seconds everything in the world is perfect. Everything in the world is just as it should be. Bryce pulls away and steps back.

"I'll never forget you." Bryce is crying.

"Neither will I." Alex is crying.

Bryce takes a couple of steps away, wiping the tears away with his arm.

"We could've been…" Bryce sniffles.

"Epic." Alex finishes his sentence.

Bryce smiles once more and turns around, walking away. Alex watches, holding back his tears as much as possible. He watches as Bryce fades into the darkness, prepared to never see him again.