Misty
When she closes her eyes, she sees him. He is standing on the catwalk smiling at her, acknowledging a love they never spoke, ready to die to save her and the Family. He nods, letting her know it's okay, that she can turn the damnable keys and send him to oblivion. She hesitates, maintaining the lock with his eyes; his sweet, soft, and tender eyes. She remembers losing Bob. Now, Hop. Her eyes are suddenly wet. Holding the strap in one hand and the the second key in the other, she takes a deep breath...
She sits up in bed, blinking tears from her eyes. Turning on her side, she gives in to emotion and sobs until blissful sleep comes again.
Lonely
Joyce Byers sits at the kitchen table, the dark, empty house closing in around her. The only light is the one above the table. A half empty pack of cigarettes lays on the table before as does an ashtray. She stares into the darkness wondering how God or the universe could be so cruel as to kidnap her son, have Bob eaten by a monster dog, and Hop blasted to atoms. She is thankful that her sons are alive and as well as can be expected, but she hoped that this entire ordeal would leave her with something to hope for. Instead, she is alone, again, and wondering why she hasn't left this hell hole sooner.
Fiery
Joyce Byers had attended so many funerals over the last couple of years, she had gotten to know, casually, of course, many of the pastors in town. Out of sheer boredom and loneliness, she invited Steven, a local Catholic priest to breakfast at her house. The conversation started out pleasantly enough, but soon veered in an unexpected direction.
Joyce, fingered the glass of orange juice in front of her and took a drag on her cigarette, which it was clear was making the priest uncomfortable.
"Why does God hate my family so much?" Joyce said, her agitation rising. "Maybe it's Hawkins he hates. Can you tell me why, Father? Why have there been so many mysterious deaths. Where is God in all of this? Is he letting The Devil run around unchecked? Who is watching out for me and mine?"
Joyce extinguished her smoke in the ashtray and sat back awaiting the answer from the poor man she had just blindsided.
Golden
There were times when listening to the radio was an almost soulful experience. You're sitting in your friend's basement eating popcorn and talking about movies when song one hits your ears. 'Warrior' by Patty Smyth. Heads start bobbing and pop corn starts sailing as 'You might think' by the Cars come one. An oldie but goodie, 'Carry On My Wayward Son' by Kansas has Dustin asking for the music to be turned up. Your friends are on their feet which gets you off the couch as well. It's 'Take on Me' by A-ha that gets the dancing started. And, finally when 'We Built this City on Rock and Roll' comes on, the shouts are rasied and the dancing intensifies. You look at your friends and feel, unabashedly like your are in the stage musical scene from Charlie Brown. Everyone is on their own world, but you are all together and of a like mind. It is heaven to you.
Undying
Jim Hopper swings his sledge hammer for thousandth time and commits his life to returning home. He has an idea where is, but still no idea how he ended up her. It doesn't matter. He will get home if it takes years. He will see El again, hold her as tight as he can and say how sorry is for being gone so long. He will fall on his knees and beg Joyce to marry him even if they never got that first date they promised each other. He will grab will and Jonathan and hug them, too. Promising that he be the best man, a better man that he has been, for them. He will sit with Mike and Steve and Dustin and Lucas and Max and Robin and Erica and tell them all how much he missed them and how much this Family means to him. He will probably shock them and that will be okay. Because he has been...allowed to live through so many impossible events, that it was time to be thankful for what he had.