prompt: image by writeworld
Jake chewed absently on his lower lip as his eyes trailed over the brick wall in front of him. Ever since he could remember, the wall was always a mess of bright colors and a faded grey in the very back. Words overlapping and images drawn one atop the other. Most would call it ugly, and while it was a bit of a sore sight, Jake loved it anyways.
He always thought it beautiful, how others before him had probably come here to express their innermost thoughts and emotions. Had used this large wall at the back of an abandoned building to bare themselves. But, just perhaps, he also loved it because he too used this wall.
He'd almost been chased once, when a police had caught him with a can of spray paint in one hand, adding even more to the chaotic mess. But he'd managed to run off and hide before the man could even think to yell out at him. He'd come back the next night anyways, to finish the drawing that he'd started.
He stepped closer to the wall, patting down his pockets until he pulled his phone out. He swiped at the screen before a faint light was shining from it, and he aimed it towards the wall, taking in the smaller details. And just there, at the very edge of the wall, he spotted the initials, making him smile.
He reached out, tracing over the roughly scribbled letters with his fingertips before he dropped his hand. He remembered the night he put them there, holding hands with the first boy he loved, Matt. Matt had been so nervous, constantly looking over his shoulder, but his hand never left their place, wrapped around Jake'd own hand.
"Stop, you're making me nervous," Jake had whispered, chuckling lightly. Matt had frowned at him, reaching over with his free hand to knock his fist against Jake's shoulder, his touch light as if he was genuinely afraid of hurting him.
Matt had snorted and then rolled his eyes. "You should be! What are you even doing?" he mumbled and then stepped closer, peering close as Jake took a step back from the wall. Jake watched as Matt's gaze had softened, a small smile slipping onto his lips when he caught sight of both of their initials, scribbled close as if even those couldn't stay apart, just like the two boys.
They had broken up long ago, and while Jake sometimes resented Matt for it, hated the fact that he'd fallen so hard for the boy only to be left alone and lost after giving so much of himself, he could never bring himself to regret the relationship. It had been years since then, and Jake was slowly getting past this, enough that he could remember their relationship together and be able to smile.
He shook his head to himself, glancing away from the letters before he turned around, shuffling back out to the road where he'd left his car parked at the side.