Drip-drip-drip.

The rain softly attacked the foggy window, leaving drops of water clinging onto the glassy surface. A blue hand delicately placed itself against that window, feeling the cold from outside, fog forming around the fingers. Although the rain was light, the ghostly white of the fog hid everything from view.

Rod removed his hand from the glass, staring at the deformed print that was left with the fog. He turned around slowly, his eyes examining the dark room. Everything had been a dream recently for him. All his actions seemed trance-like, as if he were in a movie and everything just had to be dramatic. The first object he saw was an old, red sofa cluttered with dusty, beat-up boxes. Yet, up until now, the boxes had been untouched. Somewhere beside the sofa was his only television set. For once in so long, it was actually off.

Looking around, Rod saw various objects covering the mostly-clean floor. He caught sight of many old mementos from his college days, like old dorm keys and several pictures that had fallen out of his photo-album. For the past few days he had been cleaning out his apartment, and, in the process, found several forgotten boxes at the back of his closet. Surprised, he had gone through the contents in each box thoroughly and had found many things that he never knew he had. Never knew their value…until now…

Beep!

"Ah, is it time already?" Rod wondered out loud. His voice was much different than he remembered. It was as if he was using it for the first time. Taking out his phone, he headed for the empty doorway.

Empty.

Perhaps Rod's new favorite word, as everything in his eyes seemed that way. Empty.

As he passed the far end of the dusty sofa, he caught sight of something sticking out from between a particularly big box and the cushion. Being the neat-freak that he was, Rod stopped and grabbed the object, having had lifted the box to avoid nearly breaking it. He found the object to be a dirty, crumpled piece of paper. Curious, he smoothened out and read.

……

"Hey, Nicky! I'm here…"

Rod strode over to where his best friend was and smiled at him. Nicky was so adorable! "I'm gonna sit here, okay?"

After settling himself comfortably in the chair, the blue man looked in the direction of the large window beside his friend. The rain had gotten worse.

"Hey…remember when it rained like this, Nicky? It was so cold and…well, impossible to see anything!" Rod continued to smile at this friend, but as he gazed into that innocent green face, his smile vanished completely. Indeed, it was as if the atmosphere itself had changed, even though everything remained cold and wet.

"Nicky…remember high school? How I transferred almost halfway through the year? I was such a nerd, skipping those grades and all…" His voice was serious. Not a sense of emotion. Just blank. "You were my first friend. Huh, actually, you were my only friend. I still can't believe you even wanted to befriend a guy like me. I was a total outcast, you know. I thought— I thought that it wouldn't last. You might forget me over the summer, or realize I wasn't worth anything. But, Nicky? You never did. You were there for me one-hundred-and-twenty-percent. You always hung around with me. Always. And I've always been grateful for that." Rod paused. How could he possibly put his thoughts for all those wonderful experiences with Nicky into mere words? What it meant to him. What it did.

"Then—then in college..." Rod grinned at his best friend, tears in his eyes that always came at the worst time. He promised himself he wouldn't cry. Not now. "You still stayed with me. I was so thrilled when we became roommates. It was a dream for me! A fantasy…" The blue man frowned, taking his blurry glasses off. He rubbed the bridge of his wet nose, eyes closed. Holding his glasses tightly, he continued. "You always made me laugh, Nicky. And you talked a lot. I'm not complaining, though. I loved everything. Even if I had told you to shut up, or—or started an argument…I loved it."

He stared longingly at the innocent figure before him in silence, trying to stop the constant flow of tears. Then Rod got up suddenly, his mind set. The tears stopped as well. He walked over to his old roommate and carefully took his hand. It felt so cold. With one swift motion, he placed an object in Nicky's opened palm, closing his friend's fingers around it for him. As Rod moved the green man's arm back to its original position, he leaned down close so his face was right next to Nicky's peaceful one and whispered something. Slowly, he leaned further down and pressed his lips to his best friend's.

Goodbye, Nicky.

I love you.

……

In Nicky's palm, as his coffin was being closed, ready to hide his body eternally, was a red fabric neatly rolled up into a ball. At the core of that ball was a dirty, crumpled piece of paper.

Dearest Nicky,

If you are reading this letter, I am being very brave. I am probably not near you right now, and this is why. Please, please don't hate me.

Nicholas, we've been friends for so long. And it's been great. But…will it last? After high school, we're off to college. Then, if by some miracle we are going to the same college, what about after that? We're best friends…but not lovers. You couldn't be so attached to me enough to still want to know me and be with me after all those years of meeting new people. You'd have met someone special to you. Although I do admit…I would love to be that person. The one you love and care about so much. If you ever wanted to live with me after college, I'd let you. We'd move somewhere nice. Heh, and I wouldn't even have you pay rent…

But I'm obviously just fantasizing. How could you possibly want to be with me for the rest of your life? We would have to part ways—I am dreading that moment. It's childish of me to dream we never have to say goodbye. But that's my wish.

Okay, now for the shocker. I've written this letter more times than you could count. And after finishing each one and looking through it, I destroyed every attempt. I was too much of a coward. But not with this one. It's been so hard writing all this, knowing you would read it. But Nicky, you've got to know.

I love you.

Please don't hate me for this. I can't help it. I've fallen for you. Not just because you were my first and only friend. But because you're you. And I love you. I hope that you'll return my feelings someday, if not now. Rationally, you wouldn't. And I can't blame you. I'd still like us to know each other, though. Please don't be disgusted that I'm in love with you. (Funny how once I say it, I can't stop saying it. I love you.) Because chances are, if you're reading this, you'll never see me again. Why? I know you are not gay. I know you like women; I've seen you. So…if you're reading my confession, it means I still love you, but I decided to move on as well. Or you are. Why else would I summon enough courage to give you this? I knew I wouldn't have to see your reaction. And then I wouldn't hurt. If you think about it, I still am a coward.

But I tried.

Thank you, Nicky, for everything.

I'm sorry.

Goodbye.

'Cause now, I see that what I've always dreamed of was meant to be you and me, me and you.

Fantasies come true.

…

End

Dot-dot-dot.

Author's Notes: It's done. Last chapter. I honestly wanted all this to end at chapter one, but then people started reviewing. Anyway, Rod's grief is far beyond tears, even though he does break down a little at the end. Kinda like a numb, unrealistic feeling where he just wants to die. That's all he feels, now until the end of time Nicky is not there. Sorry, Rod, but I made Nicky die and it didn't seem fair. This whole thing isn't fair. Okay, sorry, for all this. Thanks to everyone who didn't go after me after reading whatever I wrote. And I also apologize for the long wait.

...