By the Dark Side
A man in front of me looked as pale as the wall behind him. It was such a worst sight to see in the night. He took a seat on the couch while sighing heavily.
“You good?” “Nah, you've got the answer already.” “Well, I'm trying to confirm, but never mind,” I replied.
Ethan. People always see him on his bright side because he appears to be funny and genius most of the time. However, that's not the case when he's with me. Starting from the day I unintentionally got the bad side of him, I learned that he is a depressed overthinker. Since that day, he also learned about me until he entrusted me with things that he kept under the surface.
“T- these days, I can't help but think about death.”
Here comes the silence, my old friend. In this bad timing, my brain is lagging in the process of arranging words to speak.
“Are you—perhaps having suicidal thoughts?” I ask carefully.
Jokes on me. The face he makes after hearing my response is holding back his laughter, as if I was just telling him to eat his bowl of cereal without drinking the milk.
“No. It's just that when the time comes, don't you think there'll be a lot of decisions ahead?” “Even if you were on the verge of losing your soul?” “Don't you think so? Some decisions need to be made by The Greatest Force, so I won't mind it since we, humans can't interfere.” “Hmm, and then?” “There is a thing that makes me wonder, will someone accompany me at that time?”
It feels like, the silence just hugs me tightly and makes me unable to think.
“Angels will definitely be there for you, Mate.” “Excuse me, are you being sarcastic?” “I only state the fact???” “You are. But—”
Now, I can portray the situation where the silence brings a seat between me and Ethan, joining the conversation and wrapping us up.
“Ethan, hear me out. Before that time comes, things will change, right? It implies that you may only find me to be your closest companion in the present, but who knows what the future holds? Even so, I've seen you in every way that you let me know. When people only see your bright side, I'm used to your dark side. So, if the day comes, although there's a possibility that I can't be there for you, I can still make it through my prayers, you know?”
A smile that had faded from his face tonight came back in milliseconds. He gets up from his seat and approaches me with the keys in his hand.
“I'm glad, I'm glad that you made me mad back then.” “You said that for real???” “Anyway, you really blew the cloudy thoughts surrounding me before. How about I drive you to your house? It's getting darker, and I can't just let you stay at my house,” he offered to me. “Like I would say okay to stay at your house? I mean, of course, you should drive me home!”
He chuckles at my reaction, and I have never been so delighted in my life to see him brighter than ever after overcoming one of his endless thoughts.