Ethan and Jacob: Wish You Were Here
by SalientLane
Chapter 22
The night was a cloak of silent understanding as I slipped out the door, the cool air kissing my cheeks with the promise of beginnings and endings. In my pocket, I carried a crumpled photograph, corners bent from constant handling—the two of us, grinning like fools against the backdrop of Vieux-Québec's old-world charm.
Jacob's gift to me, his Star of David, still hung around my neck, and I never took it off.
"Now we are both the same," he had said, clasping it upon my neck, his voice a soft murmur lost in the rustle of autumn leaves. Now, my hand always checked to be sure it was still there, a silent reminder of where I belonged—with him.
I didn't pack much, just the essentials wrapped in a sturdy backpack—each item a testament to our shared history. A battered copy of "The Return of the King" with notes scribbled in the margins, a mixtape filled with songs from lazy summer afternoons, and the hoodie he lent me one chilly evening, still faintly carrying the scent of him. The compass Monsieur Sébastien had given him. He had said, "You'll need it, to find your way back." In turn, I had given him the timepiece Monsieur Sébastien had given me. It felt right.
These were the fragments of Jacob I held onto, the pieces that would bridge the gap between us until I could tell him all the words I'd hoarded in my heart.
The streets leading to the bus station were deserted, save for the occasional flutter of nightlife. Shadows danced along the cobblestone pathways, whispering secrets of travelers and lovers past. My hands trembled as I approached the counter, the reality of my odyssey settling heavily upon me.
"Un billet pour Québec," I said, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions within. The attendant eyed me curiously but said nothing as she handed over the ticket—a paper passport toward redemption.
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