Ethan Reed was attending Ian's, his best friends, funeral. The tears were uncontrollably flowing while he looked at Ian Carson's casket. As his hand ran his through his brown hair.
Ethan recalled when Ian first moved in next door. He was shy until Ethan got to know him better. Ethan and Ian enjoyed each others company very much. Until an unexpected turn happened that changed their lives. Ian was playing videogames with Ethan a week ago in his bedroom when suddenly mid-game he started coughing badly and sweating profusely. Ethan gave him a glass of water and asked him if he was alright. Ian brushed it of by an 'i'm fine'. Ethan heard his controller falling and saw Ian had fainted. Ethan ran to his side. They took him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with heart disease. Ethan would go to the hospital everyday to meet Ian. They would take hours reminiscing about the moments they shared. Before Ethan left after every visit, he would encourage Ian with a 'hang in there, buddy'. Ethan patted Ian's shoulder. Ian's eyes welled up with tears as he watched his friend leave the hospital room. Ian's time was getting less day by day. The day that he dreaded the most was the day that he won't be able to see the sunrise. Whenever people saw their friendship, they would always assume Ian as the 'weak' one because of his skinny frame but in fact he was strong willed. One morning, as Ethan was going to visit Ian with some cooked soup in a thermal container when the doctor stopped him. "How's Ian, doc? Will he be alright? I bought him some soup. I can't lose him. Please, doc!", tears out of Ethan's eyes as he bombarded the doctor with questions. The doctor tried to calm him down. There was a sad expression on his and he couldn't bring himself to tell Ethan the truth. The doctor sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ethan". He patted Ethan's back and he left. The grip on the container lossened and it fell to the ground, spilling it's contents. Ethan stood there as he cried silent tears unable to move. Ian's family consoled Ethan.
Ethan sat in church during funeral, listening carefully to the lyrics of the song 'In the Stars by Benson Boone' being played in the background. Everyone rose from their seats as the men took the casket.
A month had passed and Ethan had a gloomy aura. It's like Ethan buried his happiness with Ian. Ethan stood in front of the grave.
His friends called him to join them on a trip to the bar. He reluctantly went and sat in a corner, drinking beer lost in his thoughts. One of the boys approached Ethan. "Drink up your sorrows, bro". He gave another glass of shot to Ethan. "And take this, you will feel better". He placed two red pills on the palm of Ethan's hand. Ethan just stared at it. He swallowed the pill, the shot and the beer in queue. His head started spinning and he started seeing shades of colors. He walked home. Hands in his pocket and his feet stumbled on the pavement. "You shouldn't be this drunk". Someone spoke beside him. Ethan looked to his left side and saw Ian walking along side him. Ethan paused and so did Ian. Ian faced him. Ethan quickly embraced. "I missed you so much. I thought you left me". Ethan said in between his sobs."I thought I lost you forever". "I'm always here with you, buddy", replied Ian. "Let's get you home". Ethan took a shower and plopped on the bed, drifting to sleep.
Ian had already known that his time was almost up. A weekend, he was doing his homework on his study desk and suddenly he felt a sharp in his chest. He clenched the area his heart was and winced in pain. He thought about the pain that it couldn't be taken lightly. He visited the hospital and the doctor diagnosed it as mild heart attack. Later, the doctors told him that there is no other hope for him to survive. "There must be some way. Please doc, I want to live". Ian cried himself to sleep that night. The next morning, Ian met Ethan. "Ethan, can we skip school and go to the carnival? Pwease, Ethan". Ian whined. "Since when are you thinking of dodging school? Mr. Goody two shoes". Ethan chuckled. Ian's light blue eyes was looking at the ground. "It's fine, if you don't wanna go". Ian started walking away. He sounded upset. Ethan lightly pulled him towards him by his elbow. "Okay, we will go". Ian did a little happy dance which made Ethan laugh. They went to the carnival and had a blast. They went on all kinds of rides, played games, ate candy and bought collectables. "This was the best idea! I loved this! Thanks Ian". Suddenly, Ian halted and looked at Ethan dead in the eye. Tears welled up in his lifeless eyes. "Ethan, I have something to tell you". He felt like he was going to burst into tears any minute but he had to tell his best friend. Ian had to get it off his chest.
