Next... Last memory.

We worked through the summer. I tried to ignore anyone I saw out and about, tried to not speak to many people - but they were so persistent. They wouldn't leave me alone.

"Just ditch Iro - you have us now!"

"You don't need to hang around with the weirdo!"

"Just let her go and give her a taste of the real world!"

It was a relief when mum said we were going to a festival again. The same one as before. The Sparrow Star. Iro tagged along again. It was as friendly as it was so many years ago, only this time everyone treated us with more respect, because we were older.

Again, this year, we set up camp, made a fire then slept in. Then we went to the shops, this time holding hands. That was her choice.

We bought head bands again. I went for a rainbow ribbon, then tied Iro's hair up. What hair she had. She hadn't cut it yet.

She smiled, her eyes brightening again, and bought a matching one to tie my hair up. As we wandered around, a woman stepped in front of us.

"I'm sorry to bother you... But did you come here a while ago?" She asked. We nodded, nervous. "I thought it was you. One of you got a little necklace - I found the other half so I thought you should have it. I kept it all this time." She held out a silver necklace.

A similar bird to the one around my neck gleamed in her palm. I smiled and took it. "Thank you..." I whispered. She smiled and walked back to her store. After fiddling with the bird a little, I put it around Iro's neck. She touched it gently, smiling. We continued on the way.

Eventually we hit the arty stores, and ended up discussing the book. The store holder heard us and gave a discount 'For the to-be artists.'Iro left having spent the rest of her money on various devices. I then weakened to a small whistle. Then, just like last time, we headed over to the tree.

Other people had obviously climbed it during the time we had last been here. I could see scratching made by knives in the bark - 'M + M' and 'B + M' in various hearts. I felt the rough surface of bark and sighed, climbing higher then before. The branches groaned under the weight, but held firm.

Iro opened a notebook instantly and started sketching out weird but wonderful creatures out. I made up tunes on the whistle. For the first time in so long, we felt at peace. We could sit here and forget the real world, with the laughing faces and stern eyes. We could forget - and I could almost see Iro's bubble reforming.

The day went too quickly. We sat by the fire, just like we had years ago. Once again, the fire light flickered on her face, catching the beauty. Her eyes were still bright with life and creativity. She poked the fire with a stick again. Once more, a small blue flame licked at the end. Once again, I tried to steal it.

This time, her flame went out. I bit my lip and looked at her. She looked at me and grinned. Once again, the firelight made the small movement ten times more beautiful.

Then she sighed. "I need to talk to you." She said. A movement in her dads tent made her stiffen.

"Tomorrow." I said, saving her. "I'm tired now.

She gave me a grateful look, and opened the tent. Her dads shadow lowered itself back down. We climbed into our patchwork sleeping bags, and fell asleep.

The next day we headed out early, to get away and get to the tree quickly. She climbed high and started to fiddle with the bark. "I... Came out to my dad the other day." She said, eyes fixed on the floor.

It took me a moment, but when I got it my heart skipped a beat. "You're lesbian?" She shook her head. "Bisexual?" A nod. "And how'd it go?" She looked away, tears in her eyes. "That bad?"

She sighed. "He told me that after this, he was disowning me. If I dared to tell anyone else, he would have me thrown out of the house." She sighed deeper. "I don't know what to do."

I hardly even noticed me saying "Do you have a crush then?"

She looked at me like I was insane. And with that little eyebrow raise, that little sigh, that look, I felt happier then I had ever since I met her. I smiled slowly. She smiled back.

We didn't say anything for a while. My heart was pounding. Then she slowly slipped down from her branch onto mine. I shuffled up and rested my head on her shoulder. We sat there for a while, until...

The cracking.

I heard it first, and called out. "LOOK OUT!" But..

But...

I grabbed the branch over our head just in time. She fell slowly. I saw her eyes widen in panic. I saw her body hit every branch on the way down. I saw the wind get knocked out of her as she hit the floor. I could see blood seeping out of her mouth, her bright eyes glassy, her limbs at awkward angles.

No...

Please, God, no.

I climbed down carefully, my limbs jerky. No-one was around. Oh God oh God oh God...

I placed two fingers over her heart, where there is usually a steady beat. At first touch it seemed pointless. But... There.  A faint - oh so faint - pulse. I laughed in shock and delight, then cried a little and ran out to get help.

I don't know what I said. I don't know what I did after that. I remember snippets - someone picking up her notebook and handing it over. Someone calling and guiding a ambulance over. Someone crying. Probably me.

They lifted her body onto a stretcher carefully. I insisted on coming in the ambulance with her. They didn't have the heart to protest, so I rode to the hospital with her, clutching her hand like it was her lifeline and begging her not to go.

...

I have no words. Did I write that? Did I inflict that pain into my heart? Damn. Even when editing now, I'm still hurting. CURSES.

I guess you need a question. Or you can just scream at me in the comments. Tell me how that made you feel. And, if you're part of the LGBT+ community, how did coming out go for you? Have you come out? And if not, why not?

Until next time,

~Glitch.