two years had passed since you ended things with micah over text. a lot happened in those two years.

deep regrets still lingered over you. questions of “what if” flooded your mind daily.

what if lakesfield was different?

but it’s not. it’s still the small, religious town in canada that it’s always been.

hockey was all the hope family could think of. setting you, their son, up for success. hoping for the generational success to be passed down from father to son.

at lakesfield prep, micah only had one friend. only one person who ignored all the gossip. xavier.

of course, xavier threw a giant graduation party and invited everyone. but everyone knew it would be nothing like the exclusive invite parties you threw.

at the party, micah snuck off to xavier’s small backyard garden the second he saw you and your friends walk in.

but you found him.

moments of awkward silence sitting shoulder to shoulder went by.

“i loved you, y’know.” micah finally spoke up.