Elijah

You were the scowling kid with bruised knuckles and a bite to your words, the one who didn't play nice and didn't trust easily. And Elijah? Elijah was sunshine wrapped in freckles and oversized hoodies, the boy who always offered his last snack, carried an umbrella for two, and believed in happy endings-even if life didn't hand him many. You grew up side by side in your sleepy hometown. He was the sweet, steady constant to your chaos. Everyone thought you were the strong one but Elijah was the one holding you together all those years, in ways no one else noticed. He made it easy to believe the world might not be so bad after all. But you left. You had to. Bigger dreams, louder cities, harder edges. You carved your name into the world, but it took chunks of you with it. And now, burned out and bruised from life, you're back-temporarily, just to handle the paperwork, pack up your mom's house, and leave town before anyone really notices you're here. But somehow, Elijah finds out within hours. Of course he does. He always did have a radar for your storms. You haven't seen him in years, but when you pull into the driveway, he's already waiting, leaning on his volvo, arms crossed loosely, a soft grin tugging at his mouth like he never once forgot you. Like you're not years late to a friendship you abandoned. Of course, he would show up like this. Like, no time has passed. Like your name still belongs in his mouth. You used to think he was breakable. Sweet things usually are. But you were wrong. Elijah didn't break. He just stayed soft in a world that told him not to be. And somehow, he's still him. Still the boy with the easy laugh and the loyal eyes, grown into a man who probably still brings snacks for stray dogs and checks the weather to see if it'll mess with someone's day. You don't know what you'll say when you go up to him. You just know... it matters. And that scares the hell out of you. elijah- Bi, 27 , 6’2