The road felt longer at night.
Or maybe…
It just felt that way when you knew where you were going.
My footsteps echoed softly against the pavement.
Slow.
Measured.
I didn't rush.
Because deep down…
I knew this wasn't something I could run from.
The trees closed in as I moved forward.
Blocking the light.
Swallowing the path behind me.
And for the first time…
I felt it.
Not fear.
Something else.
Guilt.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"This is it…" I whispered.
The place hadn't changed.
The same broken guardrail.
The same patch of dirt.
The same silence.
The same place where everything ended.
Or…
Where everything started.
I stopped walking.
Looked around.
Nothing.
Just darkness.
Just the sound of the wind moving through the trees.
"You wanted me here," I said.
My voice sounded strange.
Too loud.
Too alone.
Silence.
I clenched my jaw.
"I came alone."
Still nothing.
A part of me almost laughed.
Maybe this was all in my head.
Maybe—
A branch snapped.
Behind me.
I turned instantly.
"Who's there?!"
Silence.
Then—
A shadow.
Moving between the trees.
Slow.
Controlled.
My heart started racing.
"I know you're there."
The shadow stopped.
And then—
A voice.
Low.
Rough.
Familiar…
But different.
"You finally came back."
My blood ran cold.
"Show yourself."
A pause.
Then—
He stepped forward.
Out of the darkness.
And everything inside me froze.
Because it was him.
Or at least…
What was left of him.
His face was different.
Marked.
Scarred.
Like time hadn't just passed…
It had carved itself into him.
But his eyes—
His eyes were the same.
And they were locked on me.
"You remember now?" he asked.
My throat felt dry.
"…yes."
A small smile crossed his face.
But it wasn't friendly.
It wasn't relief.
It was something else.
"Good," he said.
Silence fell between us.
Heavy.
"You should've died," I said before I could stop myself.
His smile widened slightly.
"Yeah," he said.
"I thought so too."
My chest tightened.
"What happened to you?" I asked.
He let out a quiet breath.
"You left me."
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just… fact.
"I didn't know—"
"You knew enough."
Silence.
Because he was right.
I looked at him.
Really looked.
"You've been watching us," I said.
"Yes."
"For how long?"
His eyes didn't leave mine.
"Long enough."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Why now?"
That made him pause.
Then—
"Because now… you remember."
Silence.
That wasn't the answer I expected.
"You could've gone to the police," I said.
"I could've," he agreed.
"Then why didn't you?"
His expression changed.
Just slightly.
"I didn't want justice," he said.
My stomach dropped.
"What do you want?"
He stepped closer.
Slow.
Controlled.
"I wanted you to feel it."
There it was.
The truth.
"The fear," he continued.
"The guilt."
"The waiting."
My chest tightened.
"And now?" I asked.
Silence.
Then—
"Now I want something else."
Something in his voice shifted.
Darker.
"What?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Tell me, Lucas…" he said quietly
"do you really think you were the only one who hurt me that night?"
My heart stopped.
"What do you mean?"
He smiled.
And that smile…
It wasn't revenge.
It was something worse.
"You hit me," he said.
I didn't move.
"You pushed me."
My breathing got heavier.
"And then…" he paused
"…someone else finished it."
Everything froze.
"No…"
"Oh yeah," he said softly.
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?" he asked.
My head started spinning.
"You're lying."
"Am I?" he stepped closer
"or are you just remembering the wrong parts?"
Silence.
Because suddenly…
I wasn't sure anymore.
"I remember the fall," I said.
"Of course you do."
"I remember leaving."
"Yeah," he nodded.
"Then what are you saying?"
He leaned in slightly.
"I'm saying…"
His voice dropped.
"…you didn't see what happened after."
My chest tightened.
"Then tell me."
He stared at me.
Long.
Deep.
Then—
"No."
"What?"
"You don't get the truth that easily," he said.
Anger rose instantly.
"After everything—"
"After everything?" he cut in
"You think you deserve answers?"
Silence.
Because I didn't know anymore.
"I deserve to know," I said.
He studied me.
And then—
"You will," he said.
That wasn't comforting.
That was worse.
"But not from me."
A chill ran down my spine.
"What does that mean?"
He stepped back.
Into the shadows.
"You'll see soon enough."
"No—wait!"
Too late.
He was already gone.
Vanished into the darkness.
Like he was never there.
I stood there.
Frozen.
Because now…
Everything changed.
Again.
It wasn't just about what I did.
It wasn't just about what we all did.
It was about what happened after.
And whoever was there…
They were still hiding.
🖤 Poem — Lucas
I faced the ghost
I thought I made
but truth lives deeper
in what we evade
and the night we remember…
is only half played