This chapter was inspired by the song 'My Side of the Story' by J.T. Hodges.
My Side of the Story
Matthew fell to his knees and traced his fingers over the gravestone. His jacket was open and trailing in the wind. The snow soaked through his jeans, colouring them two shades darker than before.
His lips were chapped and pink. His eyes were swollen.
Snowflakes danced around him, around them, and tangled in his blonde curls. His hands were raw and bleeding, unprotected from the elements.
Matthew choked on a sob and bent forward to rest his forehead against the gravestone. He clutched at it with fumbling fingers.
"I miss you," he cried. The wind howled and swept the snowflakes into a spiral. The cold burnt his hands but he refused to let go. "I can't do this. I can't do this on my own."
His tears sparkled on the gravestone, catching on the inscription.
GILBERT BEILSCHMIDT
NEVER FORGOTTEN
Gilbert had promised that they would be together forever, that Matthew would never have to brave the big, bad world alone. He had promised to take care of him. To look after him...
But Gilbert had left him. He had died and abandoned him.
And Matthew was fucking terrified.
"Take me with you," he pleaded. "Don't leave me."
Gilbert had been the only good thing in his life; he had been the only thing worth living for. He had been his saving grace. Matthew did not have a family to lean on; Gilbert was it. He did not have any other friends.
Gilbert had been the centre of his universe… And, somehow, he still was.
Matthew tightened his grip on the gravestone. He felt the rough edges bite into his hands and found he did not care. His world was painted in shades of grey and white; he liked the splash of red.
His blood dripped down the stone.
"Save me."
But he knew that Gilbert was gone, that he was alone. He felt hollow and shattered. Spent.
Gilbert had been his other half. He was his other half. All of their memories were of each other; all of their plans for the future had involved the two of them. Now Matthew had been cut loose and he had no idea what to do with himself.
… He was going to have to figure out how to stand on his own two feet…
He was going to have to try.
Matthew hiccupped and dug his fingers into the gravestone, revelling in the pain. He bit his lip. He tried to stand up, tried to push off and stand on his own.
And promptly collapsed under the weight of his own broken heart.
"Please come and get me. Please! I'll be good." His voice cracked. "Just… Just don't leave me alone like this!"
In the end, this was supposed to be their story; their life together, their adventures and laughter, their devotion to one another. It was supposed to be a fairytale. A love story.
And now it was just his side of the story...
And he did not think he was strong enough to tell it. He was not strong enough to be on his own. To be alone.
Matthew curled around the gravestone, red with his blood and white with the snow, and cried and cried and cried.
Author's Notes:
Uh… Who would like something a little happier next time?