His social life suffered, but his fame and skill grew as he put all his energies into his image and abilities. Now he is the darling of the media and in the running for the football Hall of Fame. He is making a lot of money with his advertising deals and his television appearances. Of his fans, the women practically throw themselves at him and the men all but kiss the ground he walks on. His name is known wherever he goes and he is rarely ever alone.
But today, he wants to be someone else, somewhere else. So he ditches his coach, his trainers, and his teammates to go back to his home town--his roots. Eventually he finds himself in the grounds of Vision Valley High, just walking without any real direction or purpose.
Coming to the forefront of his thoughts as he reminisces on the school soccer field is Fallen Branch, his high school best friend. They were inseparable as children; partners in crime as teenagers. Both of them were in the soccer varsity team, but it was Smoldering Ember who was selected and not Fallen Branch. Between them was a childhood rivalry that pushed them both to perform better in their sport. His best friend outwardly congratulated him for his success, but Ember knew that deep inside, his friend was hurting.
The selection had happened a few months before their senior year ended; they still played together on the same team, but things were different. Smoldering Ember became distant as he prepared to leave everything behind, and Fallen Branch did not appreciate being abandoned by his friend even before the former had physically left. And it wasn't just Fallen Branch who had felt this--all of their friends noticed Smoldering Ember withdraw from them. He would be curt and dismissive when being invited out, he wouldn't join them on their circuitous walks home anymore, and he no longer answered texts or calls.
One day before graduation, Fallen Branch had had enough and confronted Smoldering Ember about his attitude. But the latter just refused to engage him, even after Fallen Branch had thrown accusations and insults at him just to get a reaction, Smoldering Ember simply turned his back and walked away.
Remembering this brought a heavy feeling to Smoldering Ember as he walked the halls of his old high school. He hadn't seen or heard from Fallen Branch since graduation, and he acknowledges that his treatment of his friends in those final days was unwarranted. So he decided to go to Fallen Branch's old home. Maybe he can see his friend there or find out from the latter's parents where he lives now.
dingdong
The doorbell rings. An old woman who Smoldering Ember recognizes as Fallen Branch's mother opens the door. She recognizes him--he's been to this house hundreds of times in his youth--and let's him in. She leads him to the living room and serves him some tea, asking him about his life and how he is doing. When he asks her about Fallen Branch, there is a look of shock that comes over her. "I thought you knew." Her lower lip quivers as she visibly fights back the urge to break into tears. Immediately, there is a sense of terror that overcomes Smoldering Ember.
She leads him to a room in the house with a framed picture of Fallen Branch wearing his High School uniform. The frame is in a shrine, candles to either side. He had died shortly after graduation from a heart attack. Doctors said it was stress, but Fallen Branch's mother thought it was because of a sadness that came over her son when he graduated. His health quickly deteriorated, and he started writing letters to everyone.
She takes out a box and rifles through some papers. "We only opened the ones addressed to us. We decided to keep those he meant for others sealed until any of you came by. This one is yours." She holds out a plain long white envelope with his name on the front in Fallen Branch's handwriting.
Smoldering ember is shaking as he opens the envelope, knowing what the truth is, but still in denial about what is happening.
Smoldering Ember could only cry, knowing that his friend had already moved on from the former's dismissal, the latter already forgiving him, and that he had lost the opportunity to make amends because of his own choices. His sobs were so violent that they shook through his body.Dear Smoldering Ember,
You've been a jerk the last few months, and it's been a hell of a time trying to get you off your high horse for getting selected for the national team. Lots of our other friends have given up, but I know you'll come around eventually. We've been buds since we were kids, and I know that we'll be buds until the end. So when you get your head straight and realize that even if you're leaving, people who love you will still be where you left them, I'll be waiting right here. Besides, I owe you a noogie for being a stranger when you're not.
Your friend always,
Fallen Branch.