duo

can you find him?

it was cold, ice cold.

the sky was surprisingly clear for a december night.

some spots on the red brick road still wet, reflecting the moon.

two people sat on a rooftop, overlooking flickering streetlights.

one of them bathing in moonlight, the other in his shadow.

one of them spoke, the other always listening in silence.

both knew: that night － at least one of them would die.

their relationship was odd: they did everything together,

but the one who spoke clearly hated the quiet one.

at least, that's what it seemed like.

"are you fucking dumb?

i knew you'd fuck up again.

what did you expect?"

the quiet one never really pushed back, how could he?

the speaker spoke so much, because he knew.

how life worked.

how the world worked.

what happens next.

the speaker was right about almost everything.

he never failed to predict when shit went south.

and all his arguments were rock solid.

it only made sense he was the tour guide of their life together.

he'd pick the next destination and showcase his wisdom by

laying out every reason why this specific choice was best.

this time he decided:

"if this is all there is to life, better to end it now."

...

"what?"

even the quiet one couldn't help but make a sound.

"we quit? ju- just like that?", racing through him,

choking on the shortest breath he'd ever taken.

they stood on the edge of the roof overlooking the quiet street.

it was a long way down, but short enough for possible survival.

"what if my neck breaks but i live?

could i handle the pain?

what about my mom?

my brothers?

my friends?

i don't －

i can't.

i can't hurt them."

he concluded definitively.

this was one of those special moments.

when a different lifeline peeks above the horizon.

he never considered going against the speaker before.

anxiety started boiling between his lungs.

slowly it crept upward, reaching his throat now.

his brain was shaking.

eyes growing wide.

jaw clenched.

"am i really doing this?

what if i don't know what to do?

who do i follow?

what if i get lost?

or stuck?"

click*;

all the chaos calmed in an instant.

like someone pressed pause on his life's movie.

his relaxed breathing was the only movement in the whole universe.

he couldn't help but chuckle.

the more he thought about it, the more he cracked himself up.

chuckles turned into uncontrollable smiling,

finally breaking into hysterical laughter.

the insane kind you see in movies.

the stomach ache landed him flat on his back.

when he calmed down the stars appeared.

he looked up decisively.

"i don't need him."

another chuckle escaped.

so small you could've mistaken it for a loud breath.

"it's like my eyes are finally open,

like all this time i played my role,

but now...

now i can see the screen!"

the speaker was still standing on the edge.

"oh, now what?" he exhaled, slightly annoyed,

giving him the most "done with your shit" look.

filled with adrenaline he clenched his fists.

jaw even tighter than before, blood rushing through his temples.

"g-

g-

go ahead i'm not jumping.", shot out of his lungs.

"!?what do you mea－"

before he could react,

the quiet one rushed to push him off the edge.

a loud thud shook his toes through his shoes,

straight to his core.

that's when the courage and adrenaline turned to sadness.

he was absolutely certain the speaker was his biggest enemy,

but he was also the only one that always kept him company.

"i'll give him a beautiful funeral."

he concluded after sitting with the pain for an hour.

he walked down to collect his partner's broken body.

when he finally dared to look, he looked away.

away from the spot he took his last breath.

not because the image was too shocking,

there was no image left to be seen.

no body to be found.