𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄, adam reed

chapter 30 • then the sun would come up, and mock his loneliness

"fuck no." the woman handed them to adam.

"i managed to eject, but it didn't matter." laura continued.

adam stared at the carrots in his hand.

"without my jet, i was a permanent castaway. so i had to follow protocol, you know, live out my life here, avoid contact, minimize my footprint, and hope you were crazy enough to come look for me." laura continued.

"alone. all this time. four years." older adam pointed out.

"that's the job, right."

"yeah, but, baby-"

"it's.. it's fine! i got used to being alone."

"not anymore. hey, i found you. i found you."

older adam kissed laura, while older cherry cringed.

a strange emotion entered her eyes, glossing them over.

adam and cherry cringed, giving each-other a look.

older adam and laura continued kissing, arms wrapped around each-other.

"i'm gonna take my eyes and ears out for a walk." adam took a bite out of the carrot, and took cherry's hand in his.

"bye now." older adam said, in between kisses.

"you kids have fun." adam cringed, opening the door. "after you."

"i insist." cherry held the door open. "ladies first!"

"thanks!" older cherry said. "wait, hold on. i'm bringing these carrots with me for moral support."

she quickly ran back to the counter, picking up the carrots and running back out the door, quick enough to make sure nobody saw her wipe her tears.

she had barely enough time to run out the door.

laura had been gone for four years, sure, but so was cherry.

if adam reed truly ever cared about her, why had he not said a word to her?

not even an insincere i missed you?

why did he say he loved her, if he didn't?

why was that so easy for him?

maybe he loved her.

but as she ran to an empty space along the rocks, she realized that he'd never love her like he used too.

he'd always love her.

he would always keep the matching necklaces they had bought, promising to always be together.

but he would never love her like that again.

it was the same moon.

they stood under the same sun, wished upon the same stars, but their love wasn't they same.

they were done. gone.

this was the end.

but everyday, she'd still be in love with him.

everyday, he'd wait for her to come back to him. to apologize. for her to forgive him.

but he didn't love her anymore.

and she would never forgive him for that.

ever.

older cherry garcia met adam reed in college.

after he'd walked laura to class, he'd bumped into another woman who was late.

he was so happy, he wasn't even focusing on where he was going.