Ben

We grew up apart, but together; we grew up...
He was a year younger, but we had the same interests.
We both liked reading.
We liked the same movies.
We just clicked.
We once went camping with out family.
Big trip.
Grand event.
Something happened.
Ben got scared.
He ran away in the middle of the night and we couldn't find him.
We found him on the beach.
About 5 summers ago...
We reunited.
It was a shy connection at first.
But it didn't take long to find our interests were still similar.
We made a movie.
We were in middle school.
It was a slasher movie.
He only had a cameo.
He was pushed off a stump into Birch Bay.
He was a great actor.
Today...
My phone rings at school and I reluctantly and quietly answer my brother's call.
"Hey Ash, I have some... something weird to tell you. Where are you?"
"School..."
"I shouldn't tell you this-"
"You have to now."
"Ben died."
...
WHAT THE HELL?
Ben committed suicide as far as it seems.
His body was found in a field, along with his girlfriend's body.
Both dead.
This is surreal.
He's my distant cousin;
We knew each other from distant worlds.
You could say we barely knew each other and it would be accurate.
It doesn't make it feel better.
It doesn't mean we weren't family.
It doesn't mean I can't cry.
It doesn't change the fact that we wont talk about books or movies.
We wont make another slasher film.
We wont meet at Birch Bay ever again.
We wont go camping with our family.
He wont run away.
He wont be scared.
I miss Ben.