Chapter Text
It's the year 1989, 18 months have passed since el disappeared and was never seen again. The group all graduated and had to move on in some way, except Mike. Mike never moved on. He became a writer after he graduated from high school in '89. He wrote his story from a lover's point of view, where he fell in love and had to lose the love of his life. He published his book, and the money he made was enough to travel.
The year was 1992 he was 20 years old, he flew to the place that he knew that had three waterfalls. he landed and walked out and saw the most beautiful thing ever and he felt peace finally, the village people all welcomed him and one of the women told him there was a girl named “jane” who lived up the hill and he should go see her. he was very confused but hopeful. he walked up to the small cabin up the hill, it was quiet and there were animals all over, lambs, goats, deer, all sorts of animals that this “jane” was taking care of. He knocks on the door, nervous with his heart beating out of his chest to the point where you could hear it echo across the valley.
The door opens, and it’s a girl with long brunette hair and a pink shirt, some high-waisted shorts, and dark brown eyes, and she makes eye contact with Mike. Mike was in so much shock and relief that he couldn’t get words out. His mouth was dry, and he finally muttered out her name, “el?” She looked at him, and her eyes started to swell up in tears, and she grabbed him and hugged him so tight, he hugged her back tighter than ever. She muttered his name softly, “Mike..” They both pull away, still in shock that they finally found each other, and they go inside the small cabin.
The cabin was dark but cozy with a fireplace and a couch that looked like someone had given it to her as a gift. The floors were hardwood and rustic. The walls had a flower-type wallpaper covering the kitchen wall and a green covering the living room wall. They immediately kissed one another after being away from each other for three years. The kiss was so tender and sweet, like they were craving each other for so long, like they needed each other in ways that they couldn’t describe.
They pull away after the kiss. Mike looks at El with a terrifying expression, a more worried one with it as well. “Please don’t leave me again, please don’t push me away, please let me stay with you forever, please”. He begs her like he did when she left him that night. She didn’t wait a second to reassure him that he could stay with her forever. “Mike, I promise I won't leave you ever. This is our home now. This is our life now,” she says in the softest tone he’s ever heard from her. His eyes swell up with tears, and he hugs her tightly and quietly mutters in her ear, “I love you so much”. El hugs him back as she quietly sobs in his arms, muttering soft words. “I love you more, Mike”.
The night ends with them in bed, drinking hot tea and cuddling together like they wished and hoped for when they were sixteen.