Steve Harrington dies at twenty-three, in a crash, three weeks before his 24th birthday.
He was driving a blue camaro — rumor has it, this car had a wild history and a dark veil following it — and he crashed,
Violently, while he was speeding on a winding coastal road, in Pacific Northwest.
His death was instant. Although there was a lot of blood splattered on shattered glass and twisted metal, and the whole sight was ghastly,
Steve looked the way he always did —
The young man's body was brought back to his home town and buried in Hawkins cemetery, as per Mr. and Mrs. Harrington's wish.
Both parents were inconsolable. Still are.
In spite of all misunderstandings they shared with him, Steve was their only child.
As chance would have it, the headstone with
Faced that of an eighteen-year-old boy who Steve happened to be classmates with during their senior year.
Steve finds himself on a cliff that looks so much like the Hawkins quarry. The sky is so high and weightless clouds so pure, you could reach up to them,
And it would rain diamonds.
There's a figure standing on the edge of the cliff.
He comes closer and puts his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I was waiting for you, Steve. And you came." A broad palm is laid on top of his hand. The touch feels like home.
"But why so early? I could've waited much longer. You didn't have to be in such a hurry."
"It wasn't me. It wasn't on purpose. It came unexpected, but in a way, I'm relieved it happened the way it did. Quick, painless and without fear."
"Did you know I was waiting for you?"
"How could I not know .. how could I doubt that."
All that time, my love, my everything ..
"Did you know I missed you?"
Hargrove turns around. There is eternal sadness in the depth of his stormy seas, trapped under long thick eyelashes.
"Are you not happy to see me, Billy?"
"My youth was taken away. There were so many things I wanted to do. I never had the chance." Despite the grief seeping through, Billy's voice is tranquil and serene, like he has come to terms with everything that happened to him during his lifetime.
"There are so many memories I wish I had. And now, the same has been done to you. Twenty-three is too young to die at."
Billy closes his eyes and Steve gently touches his tremulous eyelids with soothing lips
"I know, baby. Let us be sad and shed tears together. Perhaps this is a kind of price we had to pay for this .. this here right now. And what we had back then. All I know is, happiness is all ours now, even if it's intertwined with sadness. We will never be torn away from each other, ever again."
"You've always had a brighter outlook on everything, pretty boy. That's why I got so hopelessly addicted to you." Billy's smile looks like sunshine at dawn, feels like a night spent in each other's tight embrace.
"Was that the only reason?"
"You know, it wasn't. There's an endless list of them. Care to listen?"
"We do have the eternity. Right?"
