They stood - waiting for the other to make a move. To wave, maybe yell out. The cars between them continued their merry ways whilst they caught glimpse of each other. Their eyes began to trickle. To turn back and turn away, both thought of doing - after all, who would blame them for doing so. But then, the light turned green.
Their steps got heavy and their heartbeats decreased as they got closer to each other.
How could it be that they would meet each other after all these years?
”I,” Tony struggled.
"And I,” John whimpered.
They couldn’t say anymore words so they embraced each other. Their heartbeats increased and time flew by - soon afterwards, the lights turned red. The cars honked them out of the crosswalk. They looked to their left, apologized to the drivers, and to their right they did the same.
They walked away from the road, the noise, and entered a coffee shop.
“I can’t believe it,” John sniffled. “You’re alive.” He touched Tony’s face to make sure he was real.
“and I can’t believe it either brother. I buried your tags thinking you had died in the war.”
Their tear ducts opened up again. They got up and embraced each other once more.
“My brother,” John cried. “I missed you!”
“I’m alive brother. I’m alive and well.”
The brothers sat down. They talked about how their lives had changed in the ten years since they said their goodbyes before the war. How they reluctantly went on with their lives after the war, not knowing the other were alive. They talked about how they lived their lives away from the public scared of losing anyone else - How they hated the fact that the other might indeed be dead though they couldn’t believe it, and couldn’t except it. How they tried to turn away at the light minutes ago because it was too good to be true. They talked about how suicide roamed their minds. They talked about it all - and then got up again and embraced each other.
“I’m thankful you never committed suicide, brother of mine,” Tony said.
John smiled, “I’m thankful you’re alive. I knew I’d meet you again”
”And someday my brother, we’ll meet again for sure,” Tony’s body began to vanish.
”What do you mean? Please don’t leave me Tony,” John cried.
"I miss you Brother,” John said as he woke up from his slumber, and walked to the bathroom. He sighed, closed his eyes. The tears wouldn’t stop, “I miss you Tony,” he cried, “I miss you so much.”
The lights turned on in the bedroom and a figure walked towards him, “Another dream?” She asked, leaning on his shoulder.
”Yeah, we met and talked but it was a dream again. I miss my brother Leona,” he said.
She wrapped her arms around him and consoled him.
