It's your birthday today.
It's your day today.
I step out of Addison Apartments, and Phillip is leaning against his car, waiting for me, a small grin appearing when he spots me.
"There's my twin! Ready to go see him?" He cocks his head to the side, and I nod. Phillip pushes off his car, spinning around to walk to the driver side.
The ride was silent, and when we step out of his car and stand in front of the graveyard, it manages to get even more quiet.
We stand in front of your grave before I sit down, Phillip joining not long after.
"Happy birthday, buddy." Phillip reaches his hand out, softly fist bumping your headstone.
"Happy birthday, Trav." I chime in, Phillip glancing at me before smiling, his hand moving away.
We sit there for a moment, just to think. Or to do nothing at all. Maybe we're both still waiting for you to answer.
"Remember how I told you that I wanted to open up my own shop? Well... That happened! Piercings and tattoos, man." Phillip smiles, before it slowly disappears. "I know you said you weren't into any of that for religious reasons, but... I think you would've liked it."
Phillip swallows, before shaking his head and smiling again. "I had to get out of this town. I knew my shop wouldn't last here, and because... This town is the reason I lost my best friend." His voice cracks at the last part, making me frown.
"I know you're probably up there fuming at me for being sad. But you know how I am. I'm an emotional person." Phillip laughs awkwardly.
He takes a moment to collect himself, before continuing on. "I got this tattoo on my wrist, it's to represent you. Sal says he's going to stop by and get one here soon, too." Phillip glances at me, and I nod.
"Sally actually helped design it, since he's figured out how to draw now..." Phillip trails off, staring down at the grass. I know he wants me to speak, so he doesn't start crying.
"You won't believe it, Travis. My dad and Larry's mom are getting married here soon." I turn to look at your headstone, calmness washing over me. "Means I'll be stuck with Larry forever. He'll officially be my brother."
I could only imagine your reaction.
I close my eye before exhaling slowly. "Anyways... I miss you, Trav. But, we all miss you." I almost choke on my words. Almost.
"I miss seeing that stupid scowl on your face. I miss our conversations in the bathroom..." I grip my jeans, and Phillip places an arm on my shoulder.
"Is it nice up there, buddy? Is your mom with you, too?" Phillip asks before we turn towards the direction of footsteps, the others approaching.
"Larry picked out your cake. Sorry if it sucks." I whisper, Phillip chuckling as they near us.
"The party has arrived!!!" Larry throws his hands in the air, waving them around.
Ash was carrying flowers in her arms, placing one bouquet on your mom's grave, and one on yours.
Larry plops down in between both graves, and Todd and Neil set down the picnic baskets.
We talk for a while, but my eyes were always on you.
It almost feels like you're right here with us.
Almost.
Larry pulls the cake out of one of the bigger baskets, the words on the top reading out, "Happy birthday Travis!"
"What kind of cake did you pick?" Ash glances at it, raising her brow as she looks up at Larry.
"Well, I was going to pick confetti, because, who the hell doesn't love confetti? But... I dunno, something told me to pick a strawberry cake."
Surprisingly, Larry's choice wasn't bad. For once.
"That's funny, Travis's favorite fruit was strawberries." Phillip shakes his head before looking over at your grave, a small smile tugging up on the corners of his lips.
I know that it was you who made Larry pick that cake. Even if the others don't all believe it, I do.
And I believe that you're sitting at your grave, staring back at me.
I bet your mom's here, too.
"Oh, I brought my recent drawing with me." I dig through my pockets before pulling out a folded piece of paper, unfolding it and flipping it over so you could see it.
"Larry colored it in, sorry if it looks like shit."
"Hey!! I should get bonus points for giving him brown hair like his mom!!" Larry wiggles a long finger at me, his lips turned downwards in a frown.
"You literally colored out of the lines." I reply, turning the paper over for the others to see, and Ash starts laughing, before the others start, too.
"Guys!!! My coloring skills aren't even bad!!!" Larry cries, covering his face with his hands.
"It's really bad, Larry." Neil shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he smiles, Larry still fake crying.
"I worked really hard on it... I think Travis would appreciate it." Larry sniffles, wiping his eyes.
"Yeah, he would appreciate my drawing skills, and would probably ask if a toddler colored it in." I shake my head, leaning over to tuck the drawing under the bouquet of flowers, so you can look at it whenever you want.
"Guys, this really isn't funny! Can we just celebrate T-mans birthday now?" He sniffles again, digging through one of the picnic baskets.
"Who the fuck is T-man?" Phillip asks, raising a brow.
"Oh come on!!!"
This is a bittersweet ending, and I KNOW y'all can't possibly be in denial no more... And no this isn't a happy ending because I have too many happy endings... Need to change this up!!! Woohoo!!!! Seriously though, this story genuinely got me emotional sometimes too, so I think I might've put a lil TOO much into this... That's okay though! I hope you all enjoyed it like I did ð¤ I swear everytime I open this chapter I think of that one sound with the birds chirping on TikTok that people use for like the childhood nostalgia. If that makes sense