Conflicted Eyes, Confusing Feelings | Complete

e i g h t y - o n e

Chapter 81: Nine inches apart 

I swear, these Asian dramas always hit the nail right on the head for the emotions and lyrics I want to capture in these chapters, like what O.O. (turn on captions for English translation)

QBTC: what is your favorite moment/fondest memory of this book? 

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We can meet again somewhere, somewhere far away from here

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Sage wore black that day.

A shallow breath moved in and out of his lungs as he stood on the plot of land, his checkered scarf billowing around him in the turbulent wind. Manipulated hair strands tickled his face as they danced in the somber air.

The smell of old stone filled the dry air, weeds covering the graves of the dead, loved ones long since stopped visiting. Gnarled trees hunched over most of the expanse, plunging the rest in shadow, graveled paths weaving through the maze of graves, allowing passers-by to pay their respects to the people lined up in the earth's embrace. The place echoed with painful grief and the emptiness of heartfelt loss, an eerie feeling Sage would never forget.

As Sage tucked a loose curl behind his ear, he glanced behind him, reminding himself of the fact that he was alone. He wanted to be alone. Head before him once more, he stuffed one hand in his hoodie's pocket and clutched the wreath with his other, the sharp plastic crinkling a melancholic tune in his ear. As he trekked down the worn path, he looked around the familiar premise.

Moss-laden marble pillars stood as despairing guards to the left and right, front and behind, like a sea of the dead. Some of the graves crumbled from the weathering of centuries, some were smooth marble with new black writing and laid with floral tributes. Most were overgrown and unkempt, for now even their mourners had joined them under clay soil, and upon the hill a new grave had been dug to await its new occupant.

Sage continued until a familiar black, polished grave came into sight. His steps thinned out, bringing him to a hard stop. Blinking back tears, he sucked in one last full breath as he found an ounce of his strength, just enough he needed to proceed, closing the distance. Behind the ancient wrought-iron gates was a familiar grave, its silver engraved epitaphs bathed in the light pouring from the scorching sun.

There was so much he wanted to say, so much that happened since he passed, but Sage's mouth remained in a thin line, refusing to open as his eyes remained trained on the grave, his thoughts spiraling into nothingness. He didn't know how long he stayed there, lingering and emptily staring at the plot like a zombie.

Someone touched his shoulder.

Looking up, hazel brown eyes met sympathetic amethyst ones.

"Are you okay?"

Sage shook his head, the pool of tears in his glazed-over eyes finally broken as a single tear spilled out, marking a line along his speckled cheeks. Randall sighed, kneeling next to his best friend and wrapping his arms around his frail figure, towing him in for a long hug. It felt like eternities had passed before Sage pulled away first, sniffling uncomfortably to stop the flow of snot from his nose ultimately using the sleeve of his sweater to do so.