Ok, writing this standalone to get back in my “writing groove.” Have fun reading kids, I know you guys have missed me. All I can say is...shit happens. And if you all really want to know, yes I AM 12.

Snow drifted softly to the ground, and the gentle noise of it brushing against the trees filled the wintry air. The earth was blanketed with snow, turning the rather desolate forest into a winter wonderland.

“Mike?”

The soft whisper drifted through the trees.

Crunch Crunch

The sound of heavy boots followed it. A branch broke.

“Michael?”

Somewhere far off a bird chirped. Sunlight streamed through the swaying leaves, falling on the visitor. He was not a stranger. He was known to take long walks, traveling aimlessly through the forest, whispering random thoughts and singing melancholy songs.

Thud

A bag dropped, the sound echoing in the forest. The blonde man glanced up and squinted, shielding his eyes from the sun. His gaze traveled to the black canvas backpack. It looked so out of place on the snowy ground, even with the fresh snowflakes falling on it.

“Can you hear me?”

The blonde slowly turned in a circle, surveying his surroundings. It looked the same.

‘Only whiter...’

”Mike! What are you doing! You’re ruining your painting!”

A smile played across the younger man’s handsome face. It was the kind of smile that made you melt inside, the kind of smile that made you feel your own lips turn up in a grin.

The kind of smile that made you fall in love.

“Not ruining. Changing.”

A confused look crossed the blonde.

“But why?! It’s fine the way it is!”

Mike’s brush continued to paint, streaking white on the summer depiction of a nearby forest.

“No Chester. It’s not.”

Silence. Chester stood behind him, pondering his lovers rather odd choice.

“Why isn’t it fine?”

The silence went as quick as it had came.

“Because Chester...look outside.”

The smaller man moved to the window and pulled the pale blue curtains back. Sun shined brightly and the grass was a lush green.

“I don’t see anything.”

Mike’s smile grew wider and reluctantly, he put down his brush. He walked up behind his lover and wrapped his strong arms around Chester’s pale form. His lips glided to the blonde’s ears, softly brushing them.

“Of course you do. You see grass and soil and the sun. You see pretty green trees and car whizzing by. But what about in a few months? What will you see then? That’s when the snow will cover the earth. It’ll turn it all upside down, and then, even then, it’ll flip it around. Winter isn’t nice Chester. Don’t forget that. But look.”

Chester glanced at Mike’s painting, the one he was pointing to.

“I didn’t paint a new winter picture. Do you know why?”

Chester sniffled and shook his head, tears now falling from his cheeks like raindrops.

“Because no matter how cruel and mean and horrible winter is....it can never change what was there from the beginning.”

Chester’s tears were flowing freely now. They dropped to the snow, freezing. His stomach churned.

Chester reached up and brushed his tear-streaked cheeks with his fingertips. Gently, as Mike would have done.

”Shhh. Baby, don’t cry. You don’t deserve pain and suffering, just as I don’t deserve you.”

Chester’s heart ached at the memory. Mike had never thought he was good enough. Chester had always chided him, thinking it ridiculous that a man so pure, innocent and wonderful would think bad about himself.

‘Snowflake...’

Yes, that was what Chester thought of Mike. Mike, so beautiful, so fragile. Different from all the others. Chester held out a hand and caught one.

”Mike! What the hell are you doing?” Chester giggled as he watched his lover twirl around, tongue stuck out.

Mike squealed with joy as a snowflake hit his tongue.

“I caught one!”

Chester shook his head and laughed when snow fell from his hair.

Chester ran up to Mike and embraced him. They kissed softly, blushing like it was their first kiss on a first date. Their cheeks maintained it’s rosy color, the cold wind whipping the coats around them. Suddenly, Chester was lifted off his feet.

“Ah! Mike!”

Together they twirled, the snow falling softly around them. Their laughs punctuated the forest echoing. Chester did not know that Mike’s rich, sensual laughter would be burned on his mind, the image of his face burned on his retinas.

Chester dropped down to his knees. He opened the bag in front of him. A letter spilled out of it, creamy white. Different from the white of the snow. Different, like Mike.

Chester’s fresh tears hit the creamy paper as he scribbled a quick note with a pen.

“Mike...” Chester whispered his lovers name one last time before packing up his bag. As quickly as he had come, he left, his tears frozen on the snow, frozen in time. When spring came, it would melt and sink into the ground. The paper would decompose, but Chester knew that it would be part of the soil forever.

Mike...I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. You were right. It did change. The outside. You’re gone, and I can’t do anything about it. But you know what? You’re apart of me. In me, in my blood. Burned into me. Nothing, not even goddamn cancer could change that. Nothing. So don’t pity me from wherever you are. Don’t think less of yourself. I’ll be ok. All I’m asking is that you smile down on me once in awhile. I’ll need it. - Chester.

~****~

As the blonde shuffled back to his car, a breeze hit him, gently, oh so gently. A tear fell, but it didn’t freeze, it sank through the snow.

“Thank you Mike.”

The blonde smiled. Spring was here.

Wow that was sad! PLEASE REVIEW! I really worked hard on that one!