The notes start the week after Billy moves in with Steve, on the very first day of his new job at the auto shop, a year after Starcourt.
Physically, Billy is healed, besides the pink scars that cover his abdomen and back, which Steve thinks are beautiful reminders of how strong Billy is, how he went to hell and back and is stronger than ever, even if billy himself doesn’t always think so.
Psychologically, it’s a different story. Billy still wakes up sweating and screaming in the middle of the night, his heart pounding, nightmares of the time he spent possessed by the Demogorgon plaguing his mind. He feels weak and afraid and on his worst days, he doesn’t feel like he deserves to have lived.
He opens his paper sack lunch, which Steve prepared for him before sending him off with a kiss that morning. There’s a peanut butter and jam sandwich, Billy’s favourite, along with an apple, a cheese string, and a Twinkie.
Stuck to the plastic baggie containing the sandwich is a hot pink sticky note reading “You are strong and capable. I love you.” Billy saves it, sticking it in his wallet. He doesn’t expect the notes to continue, but they do.
Every day is something different.
You’re going to do great things today
You are beautiful, every single inch of you
You deserve happiness. Let yourself have it
I’m making lasagna tonight
Smile if you’re not already
I’m going to ride you into the mattress tonight (that one had made Billy blush and immediately shove the note into his pocket)
He saves them all in his glove compartment after the stack becomes too thick for his wallet, little reminders of the fact that someone cares for him littering the space. He never mentions them to Steve, but takes comfort in the fact that they’ll always be there anyway, just like Steve’s love.
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romaincrisis
theartofmadeline
2087
vaporwave
