#tswhd

You're a teenager. You love your best friend. You don't say it, but you do. Summer is long and hot, but you have fun with him despite the humidity weighing heavy upon your shoulders. A storm could even be expected on days like these.

Your friend mysteriously disappears during such a storm. Despite assuming the worse, you wish that you could see him again with every fibre of your being the more time goes on.

A miracle happens then; there he is in front of you once more with his signature smile. This person has the same hair and eyes. It seems like he knows you, and even his family are overjoyed to have him around again. You had wished for this and should have been happy at that. You had been for a while. He likes the same things, know's what he should about your friendship, but....something about this seems too perfect.

You start to notice small details that don't match up with that same friend of yours. Reactions. Memories. What may have been miniscule details lost on others were now quickly accumulating into something far bigger.

You test out your assumptions one muggy afternoon with him, cicadas chirping as you take this gamble.

You learn not to ask questions when you aren't ready to witness the truth about miracles.

This being at your side is definitely not him; for he isn't even human. But this imitation of him–he still loves you just the same. He wants you to treat life as you did last summer, to eat ice cream and ride bikes with him once more, and isn't that what you want too? Don't you want him around? Need him around? Even if he isn't the real thing?

Didn't you miss your best friend? Didn't you love him? And whatever he is, does it not love you back enough to try being what you wished for?

You're a teenager. You loved your best friend. You didn't say it, but you did. Summer is long and hot, but you have fun with him despite the humidity weighing heavy upon your shoulders. The sunset guides you both home.