Motionless

"Love me when I'm gone, because when I am, I won't forget you."

And suddenly, all was still.
I sat under the greying willow tree, swinging on the tire swing, humming softly.
But it was all..still.
I watched as it happened.
First, he had climbed to the top of the tree, not too far from here. It was an oak tree, the leaves orange and red and yellow, ready for fall.
Next, the boy had swung a rope around the long branch that seemed to be the main, protruding branch, almost like the trunk, but not.
Next, he threw a match. It landed on the ground and caught on a dry patch surrounded by rocks, which he had gathered together before he climbed up.
He took off his bracelet, his necklace, and coat. He tossed them into the flames, where they burned.
For a moment, he stared at his wrists. Then he began hyperventilating, what seemed to be crying.
Then he took out what seemed to be a wallet.
He dumped all the change, maybe a few dollars and a couple of cents, onto the grass below. He then took out an ID, and finally, a photograph.
He looked at it. He whispered something. And then he held it to his heart, and I could hear him yelling in the distance, "I can't be in this world without you! We were rejected together, we were told that we'd be sent to Hell and die. And now, I guess we are!"
With that, he tossed the image down into the flames. He then took the rope.
I pushed my soft, white-blonde hair from my eyes. I watched, all of it. He slung it around his neck, made a knot. I knew this type of knot too well.
And then, he stood. He was barefoot to start with. He took a deep sigh, and I could almost hear his heartbeat. Almost.
The boy then looked into the flames, nodded to himself, and fell. He fell like a dead weight, probably no more than 100 pounds.
At first, he choked; he strained a bit. His muscles were tense.
Then he seemed to accept it. He leaned his head back and let out a gurgled laugh. And then, all was still.
All was silent.
I looked to the man next to me, playing with his ping-pong paddle sadly.
"Don't worry," I said, gently. "He's coming."
The man looked up at me with sad eyes. They were a crystal blue, and he had a small goattee. His head was buzzed and a dirty blonde color.
"Kelsey..." He mumbled. "I told him no matter what happened, to always take on the world.
"Mark," I said, getting to my knees and squeezing his shoulder. "You took on the world, and he cried for you. Now..he's coming to a better place."
"I know." He sighed. "At least we get to be together...again...without that stupid consent law." I smiled and nodded slowly.
"Sixteen and twenty-four, correct?" Mark merely nodded and I turned to face a figure in dark clothing. Tight, torn skinny jeans. A black hoodie that read, 'Warped Tour 2013.' It was way too big for him, but he looked content with the rolled up sleeves and wristbands. His dark hair fell over his sunken grey eyes. Finally, his ears were decorated with black plugs that shined in the fading sunlight.
"Jaime," says Mark, who stands, taller than the boy. "I'm sorry. I missed you...so, so much." The boy, Jaime, merely smiled and nodded, then wiped a tear from his eye and falls into Mark's arms.
Mark sat against the willow tree, cuddling Jaime gently and looking out towards the oak tree, where the same figure hung. Still, the items burned below him, the flame slowly dying.
I heard Mark singing softly to Jaime, petting his head as he slowly drifted off.
"Much needed," I said. "He needs it...sleep. Death isn't everything."
Mark looked up at me and smiles, his eyes a bit teary and cheeks rosy.
"Tell me again...why did you go into the military?"
"To protect him. I can't...I couldn't just let the world fight and sit back. And...Jaime told me I could do anything I wanted to..If I tried. And I failed."
"Hush, Mark. You're together now." I smiled softly, closing my eyes. "For eternity." And I began humming again, swinging slowly.
And once again, all was silent, and all was motionless.