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It wasn't supposed to end like this.
It absolutely wasn't.
Linkin Park was touring. They were supposed to keep doing it.
It wasn't supposed to end like this.
Six days ago.
That was the date of the pictures on Mike's phone.
Six days ago and they were doing that stupid Carpool Karaoke.
Mike's sight was blurred. The light of the phone screen, added to his intensive crying, was fueling his headache.
Six days ago since those pics of him and Chester.
Chester.
Oh, Chester.
Mike couldn't believe it. He was fully in denial. He abruptly closed the photo album on his phone, quickly going to his contacts.
There, among his favorite contacts, Chester's name popped up, a silly picture of his best friend staring up at him.
His thumb hovered over the name, almost calling that number he knew by memory.
He pressed it. It rang once, twice, three times, before a prerecorded message in his best friend's voice answered.
‘Hello, this is Chester! Please leave a message after the beep!’
Mike braced himself for the loud gurgling scream Chester had made to signal the beeping of the recorded voice.
It had seemed so stupid at the time.
A wave of nausea rushed in Mike's mouth, burning his throat. It wasn't true, it couldn't be.
Mike closed his sore eyes.
He pictured the last time he had seen him. He was laughing. He was smiling. He had thrown his arms around Mike's shoulders and buried his face into the crook of his neck.
Mike had laughed affectionately, holding his best friend tightly; he had thought he was a bit down, like he sometimes was. He had left a gentle, tender kiss on his head and had held him close that bit more than usual.
Once they parted ways from the hug, Chester had beamed up at him, his eyes glistening with unshed tears; he had thanked Mike for being there.
Mike hadn't thought much of it at the time.
Now, the guilt was eating him up alive.
He should have seen it coming. He should have sensed it.
He knew how bad it could get for his best friend, for his brother. And yet. Chester was now gone.
He opened his eyes, a new veil of tears threatening to spill, and he curled on his side, facing the couch cushions as he unlocked his phone again, going to the gallery.
Tons of pictures streamed in front of him. Pictures he had never posted online, because they were the simple proof of his and Chester's friendship.
He watched the familiar faces of him and himself smile back at him, unaware of the pain they would eventually bring the man.
Chester was smiling brightly in all of them, eyes squinted and mouth open as he laughed. Arms wrapped around one another with the other band members.
Pictures of their shenanigans while on tour.
Mike's favorite picture arrived next, Chester's happy smile, both arms wrapped around Mike, Mike's own head thrown back in laughter as he held his best friend for the camera.
Their last picture together, only 6 damned days before.
He suddenly shut his phone, letting it fall between the couch and his body.
6 days.
It had only been 6 fucking days.