The two of us haven't spoken in years. We'd had a.. unique dynamic, one that I can't find the words for even so many years later, but we were always there.

There were always ups and downs, rough patches — there are with any two people who can't communicate their feelings and depended on unhealthy methods to survive — and we had been in a particularly rough patch when you suddenly moved away. It wasn't your fault, of course, your father's position was moved and you had no choice but to go along. But it still stung; my mind still clings to the fact that I never said goodbye, never had a chance to make up, never reached out since. But time kept moving, we kept growing, and everything between us was stagnant and fading in memory.

⋆

Late night convenience store runs were your weird way to blow off steam. Maybe it was the little treat you'd buy, maybe it was the slow walk under the night sky, but something about it was like a salve on a wound when you were overwhelmed with the world.

And tonight your mind wanders especially far. You can barely gather your thoughts, really, everything spinning into one muddled lump of cynicism that almost seemed to weigh on your shoulders. But hey, you have bigger priorities right now. Like choosing a snack and figuring out how much is left on your debit card.