The Trio of Bittersweet Nights

Clay was slipping; he knew that he was going to disappear. So he clung to everything he could. He demanded a presence for as long his body could handle it. The headaches only made his energy dissipate faster. It was getting harder and harder to smile. Next thing he knew months have gone past. He ignored calls to cancel hangouts. His mind returned to a muddled mess.

it was a curse Clay had. Doomed to repeat again and again. He’d get lost in his mind for ages only to return months later. Sometimes with something new but mostly with empty hands and a shrug. Truth be told Clay loved living it’s just that most of the time he didn’t have the energy to enjoy it.

So here he was laying on the sofa falling asleep to a children’s cartoon. His mind drifting in and out of consciousness. He would have been like this for the rest of the day if Rome hadn’t barged into the room using a spare key Clay and him had copied.

“Happy birthday!” Rome smiled, spinning around the room before turning to see Clay sink further into his position on the sofa. Clay groaned bringing up the blanket over his head.

“Your talking over my show…” Clay grumbled reaching for the remote before Rome can interrupt anymore important dialog.

“Come on let’s go ice skating! Rohisa got us free tickets! Rapheal is coming then we can go get ice cream. “ Rome tore off the quilt and tossed it onto the floor. Clay grumbled as time shifted yet again.

His skates were some old figure skates he found in his basement. Needless to say he hated them. As soon as he got on the ice he tripped over the tips that you were supposed to use to break.

He kept to the edge and tried to turn his mind to the music. Music always made everything better even if they were only playing shitty pop songs. They allowed his mind to wander elsewhere. They allowed him to pretend he was in a different place, that he was a different person. Just as he was about to relax and was starting to pick up speed. He collapsed once again tripping over the wretched points on his skates. He slid on the ice like a penguin. Worse the ice was half melted and the cold water ran down his sweatshirt. Bits of god knows what muddied his shirt. Clay scrambled to get up as a few skaters laughed a bit moving around him with ease.

A pair of white figure skates stopped in front of him. Clay looked up to see Raphael looking down at him.

“You good?” Raphael asked, holding out his hand.

“Not really,” Clay said, taking his offer for help up. “I can’t skate in figure skates and I grew out of my hockey skates. not to mention I haven’t done this sorta stuff since I was like 12”

“Oh,”

“What about you?” Clay asked as they slowly moved to the side of the rink. “You seem weirdly good at this.”

“Oh uh you didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“I've been a figure skater for about two years now. My last girlfriend got me into it. Been doing it ever since.” Raphael said.

“Wow didn’t know you were that good of a boyfriend, that explains a lot”

Raphael shrugged letting go of Clay’s hand as they reached the side.

“Not very good at it though, again most people have years of practice well I’m really just a newbie”

“Two years isn’t newbie level dude,” Clay laughed a bit. The small weight in his chest from before dissipating. “Anyway I’m good I’ll just sit at the side for a bit you go ahead” Clay walked off the ice sitting down in the bleachers. Raphael frowned before turning back to skate. Briskly surpassing the other skaters with ease.

Clay’s feet hurt. He was soaked and his earbuds were at home. He missed the comforting music of his own personal playlist. The familiar sounds and creating scenes in his head. Clay decided that this was the end of his skating adventure. Taking off his skates and putting back on his shoes.

His friends still skated in circles on the ice. Raphael was now talking with Rome and Rohisa and Erika were laughing. Erika, like Clay, wasn't very good friends with the ice. She clung to the wall the entire way around.

It didn’t take long for both Rome and Raphael to get off the ice. They only did one more lap before opting to join the sulking birthday boy. They both seemed a little bit sadder. As if Clay’s presence had ruined the mood.

“Let’s get out of here,” Rome forced a smile, hooking his arm around Raphael’s shoulder. He waddled over next to Clay. Practically falling back into the bench. He laughed ignoring Clay’s casual apathetic expression. Rome knew that he was trying his best. That’s all that really mattered.