[[Sorry all! Its been almost a month and legit i am sorry. I put my Archive account off for a month as well. Just so much has been happening, but now I'm back and ready to continue regularly! ]]

~

John watched as they passed the Welcoming sign into New Jersey . Stopping and taking his picture and he was out of the truck at the nearest rest stop. Spades handed down his bag and gave him a hug goodbye .

"It was nice traveling with you. But this is where I move to drop the loads and collect new ones and head home. Good luck to ya kid.. good luck"He said, and with that John was gone.
John spent some time walking down into the town, pausing as he dropped some envelopes into there, happily marking them with 'Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York ...' Next he went to have his pictures Developed, and tucking them into his bag, he didn't want to send them for fear of spooking Dave.

He had eaten for the day from Spades. He was within his first days within his trip, and had made good work, he was quick to take his leave from the town, walking through the spacious roads, it was just getting to where the sun was setting, so he had to find a way to go for sleep that night, he had made it through that one town, and had done so in a good hour and a half. He rested there , in the fields. His notebook in his hands tucked close. He finished his log and curled up there under the tree in the fields. Closing his eyes so peacefully.

~
"What's It like up there John?"
A whisper lost to the air

Dave's hands pressed into the cool stones of the bridge , he was looking for something, but nothing. His eyes rested down into the water as he leaned against the archway he curled his fingers over the edge of the bridge, and he paused, that wasn't stone.

He leaned over more, looking at the underside of the arches for support, there was something lodged into the stone of the bridge.

He pushed his fingers through the crack and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper , and he unfolded it...

Dear god...

Dear god …

His fingers were shaking rapidly as his eyes scanned down the papers, almost ripping it in half by how bad his hands shook.

[Referencing Chapter 6]
'Dear Dave...

Life' ...or death rather.. Is boring up here.

I spent last night thinking about old memories.

I know you can;t get these... and I know that you never will notice how much I miss you.

Are you sad Dave? Please don't be...

Please don't...If my heart could handle anymore, that would break it.

Im venting, Im stupid...I know...

But think about it there cool kid...

One less thing to have to babysit...

Im sorry i couldn't have been any better to you...

Don't say this is your fault, let me take those words from your mouth , right now.

I miss you... And expect another letter soon...

~J. E 3

The Letter crumpled in his hands,He let out a shaky breath as he stuffed it into his pockets

"Fuck... Just... Fuck"He breathed out, his mind throbbing from emotion and panic and confusion as he crumbled into a ball onto the bridge, Just staring down at the water, sobbing heavily. He was letting everything out

Fuck Everything. Fuck Love, Fuck caring Fuck Pride. Fuck Life in general

He took off his shades tossing them aside, tears streaking from the crimson eyes, sobbing heavily into the stone, he found his mind wasting away, he was screaming, he was sobbing, he was pounding at the stone until his knuckles throbbed with pain and scratched the skin to blood on the stone.

"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME! THIS ISN'T FAIR!"

He didn't know what was happening, but every word in those letters, everything, everything happening was putting his mind in confusion and agony.
It wasn't until the arms locked around his body that he began kicking and punching, writhing like a child.

His face was pressed into a burly chest, and the arms were locked around him tightly, refusing to let him move, within seconds he realized it was Dirk, who had been driving by on the way to work when he heard the screaming

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! JUST LET ME GO AND LEAVE-!"

But the grip held, Dirk ignored every word, he knew they were out of nothing but emotion, he gripped onto his sibling tightly, hushing him quietly until the struggles relaxed and Dave was just a sobbing wreck in his lap.

"D-Dirk... Whats wrong with me?...I-Im falling apart..." He sobbed into his chest, clinging to the shirt.

"Its alright... stop thinking about it for right now, just relax, just relax" He hushed quietly.

Dave;s eyes opened in cracks, feeling surrounded by the comfort, his long sleeves were wrapped around his wrists as they gripped Dirk's shirt, a hint of

the fabric slid down just slightly enough to send him into a torrent of sobs, as he closed his eyes and buried his head down into his shirt again, not ready to face the scars that were there on his wrists...