Chapter 52 : The door in which the past haunts

"...What is this, Benny-Ben-Ben?" I gasped, my voice garbled.

The door...the door was clear.

I couldn't see through it but the color was certainly clear.

And inside.... Inside was...Drake.

Alive. Happy. Dancing...at the ball. Looking as perfect as he did all those months ago.

"Why..."

"He's not real--whoever you're seeing," Benedictis tells me.

The stalker.

"...What do you mean?"

"This...particular door, shows you what you most wish for."

Well, that certainly explains it.

It makes sense that what I most wish for is Drake.

I love him. Loved. I loved him.

A few months or even a lifetime won't change that.

I keep remembering the little things about him...the thing I noticed but brushed aside as insignificant. Now they're all I can think about. He hated squash. And anything with seeds claimed it was unnatural. He still ate it, even as he complained. Finished every bite.

He liked his stake bloody, and he couldn't handle anything remotely spicy. I once fed him a hot pink pepper (This isn't Kansas anymore, Toto) and he basically drowned himself in a vat of milk.

He liked goat milk. Which I hate, but would keep stalked for him, the weirdo.

He was obsessed with peanut butter. He had it with everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. I even caught him eating peanut butter with spaghetti and couldn't resist asking if he was pregnant. It was worth it, even though he chased me around for two hours after that.

His skin was super sensitive and could only have delicate and soft fabric on it. He would get rashes and come complain to me about it.

He hated his hair color.

He learned to cook because I expressed an interest in the subject.

He loved to read.

He played the cello.

He was kind.

He was...my golden boy. My drake.

"How can this not be real?"

"He's-he's right...there! I can see him with my eyes, If I reached out I could touch him, hug him, tell him that..." I love him.

I reached out, extending my arm towards the foggy door, intending to do exactly what I'd just stated, when Benedictis grabbed my hand and stopped my movements.

"Ben--"

"I can't let you, Toni."

"Why?!" I cried, panic lacing my every word, every movement, every...tear.

"As much as it pains me to see you like this, if you go through this door, you won't come back."

"But-But-but he's right there! Right there, Benedictis! Drake is! Is-is--"

"He's gone, Antonio, that much I am certain of."

Damnit. I know what he's saying is technically true, but he's right there! Right in front of me! I can hear his laughter! Can smell his particular and addicting scent!

...My golden boy.

"I hate you, stalker."

"...Whilst I understand your reasoning and your emotions, can you not refer to me as a stalker?"

"Why? It's what you are."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

The worried Benedictis who only followed Antonio to make sure he stays safe: ಥ_ಥ

The dancing Drake behind the veil: Why'd you stop him?!

Also Drake: ...Good call...