defying gravity. final.

He’s walking away. That’s what everyone does, leaves. It’s tragic, really. A gifted boy with a bright future, but he’s changed so much from who we used to know.
***
Freshman year was lonesome until I found my place. His name was Patrick. His soul sang a beautiful melody that became my gravitational pull toward him. Both a bit tattered and broken, we found in each other what we’d lost in ourselves.
Patrick was much like me, just better at it. We constantly fed off each others moods, seemingly being one. Patrick brought many questions and beliefs, astounding me with the depth of his mind. He successfully opened my eyes to the best and worst parts of the world.
But the bad days came - everything can’t stay perfect forever.
The first happened in the parking lot. He’d been upset all day, not telling me why. I’d done everything I could to see his pearly whites. That night, he was a different Patrick, one I couldn’t stand, spitting out short, precise words meant to cut like daggers. An explosion rang through me in the car and my screaming was deafening.
Then, his tears fell - my big, strong Patrick became a weeping boy. I’d never seen him cry before. I slipped the car in park and lovingly wrapped my arms around him and we stayed like that for hours – tears pouring, just hoping everything would get better. This was the first and last time Patrick needed me like I needed him. I fell in love that night. I knew his tears were for her, the girl who foolishly played with his heart and hurt him so badly, but it happened anyway. A terrible idea, but it was beyond my power.
***
Patrick possessed a profound adoration and revere for the arts, as did I. They, along with each other, are what held our ragged edges together as long as they could. Patrick’s abilities were prodigious. I could have listened to him play the piano forever, using his fingers to plunk out a gorgeous melody that made me want to cry. His music evoked emotions in me that I was not aware I obtained. I was beyond ecstatic when he wrote a song for me.
“I think maybe you’ll be the one who will save me from all of this and maybe you are the one I need to be with me.” It’s beautiful chords still play in my mind, taking me back. With a simple song, Patrick had miraculously saved me.
Still, we fought terribly - both stubborn and sure of ourselves, everything turned into a battle. On a constant rollercoaster, I became weary and sick. Terrible, spiteful words would be said out of anger and they tore me apart. I held on because I knew that the sun would shine again, the smiles would return.
Our friendship became “award-winning.” Our acting pieces astounded crowds – they loved watching the special connection we possessed. The chemistry between us reverberated off the walls. Patrick and I got lost inside our characters. I was always so proud of him and felt I couldn’t take the credit for the performances because, without him, I would’ve been nothing. Between performances, though, we fell apart. He wasn’t the same Patrick I knew and loved. He became lost in a nightmare, one he couldn’t wake up from. He rarely smiled - they were few and far between. I missed them. I missed him.
***
Over the next year, our friendship changed. I realized that my Patrick was never coming back and although I accepted it, it wasn’t easy. The memories didn’t stop playing in my mind. I wanted to reverse time.
Then one day he needed me - needed me to care, for support, as a comfort. I’d already moved past my loss. I didn’t know how to react, didn’t know how to help anymore.
I began walking away - that’s what everyone does. I walked away from the boy with talent and a bright future because he wasn’t the boy we knew. His soul’s beautiful melody had become tattered and broken so I defied gravity. The bad days had come - everything can’t stay perfect forever.