loneliness.

Do I know it? Am I just over-thinking my life? Could I really bond with someone just because I want to?
Who am I to pity myself over such non-sense. People die every day, and I worry about being alone...wait...I don't worry about it. No...

I fear it.

"Hey Jalen!!!" Tyler, the closest thing to a friend I have in this hellhole shows up. "we gonna smoke or what man?"

"Yeah, just hold up". Yes I smoke. Weed, not cigarettes. And sometimes ill take a psychedelic drug like acid or shrooms. Don't judge, im just a kid trying to get by. I turn around and head into the woods. There is a little place where someone had built a make-shift tree-house. It wasn't the most safe, or sturdy place. But it was a pretty chill place to sit and smoke a joint with Tyler. As I walked toward said tree-house, I feel like something is walking right behind me. But that's not possible, there was nothing around for miles before. Quickly turning, I attempt to see what it could be.

Nothing.

"Fuck man" Tyler says up ahead. "I forgot my lighter, mind if I use yours?" He climbs up the crooked ladder leading to a small platform with one long bench. The entire thing sways a bit, making me reconsider climbing it myself. "dude come on, im ready to blow down." I walk toward the tree-house a bit faster, and grab on to the ladder. I have been on this before so I know it can hold me.

When I reach the top he hands me a small bag holding the plant. I take it, sit down, pull out a pipe, and start to load a bowl. As I load, he takes out his phone and says "you get first song"

"Then you can have greens" I reply in kind. "But you know its going to be more brony stuff right?" I question as I finish loading the bowl and hand it to him.

"yeah, I don't mind"

Nodding, I put on a song made by a youtuber that goes by the name of the aviators. I can never really tell if Tyler likes the songs or not. He doesn't react much to them at all. Except for one song. Aviators music is my favorite, but one song reached me on a deeper more emotional level. And he could tell. Its name was "children of the night", a fan-made song/ animation. Its not the type of music I listen to. But the combination of me never really having someone as close to me as a real mother, and feeling Luna's isolation to others myself, caused me to break down a bit every time I heard it. I tried to pass off my isolation and difference as me just being smarter. Though deep down, I knew that no matter how smart anyone is, they would never know this corner. This isolation. This fear.

"Bro, snap out of it, its your hit."

I take the pipe from his hand, and try to stop thinking such dark thoughts. As I light the end with a blue BIC lighter, my worries fade ever so slightly. It really does help in this deep dark world. Its impossible for me to ever come to terms with it. A white puff of smoke pours out in front of me as I exhale and pass the pipe. "so, how have you been lately?" I question feebly, attempting to start an honest conversation.

"pretty chill man, the beach is freaking awesome, but I still miss this place sometimes. At least I get to visit every other weekend". He moves a bit before passing the pipe back to me. "its out".

"Holy shit" I start. "that went by fast". I take out a small bag and show it to him. "good thing I brought this". The bag had only a little bit of weed, but it was GOOD weed. Dro, in fact, so it was going to get us really high.

"nice man!, where did you get it?" he questions.

"a friend named James" I state simply. I open it up and start loading the bowl when he grabs my arm and shakes his head. I give him a surprised look, and ask him why he stopped me from loading a bowl.

"were going to smoke it in the middle of our trip" he deadpans. He reaches into his worn-out jackets pocket, and pulls out four pill-like things. "I managed to get some acid!!"

"Duuuuude" I whisper. "How man?" I ask. "its so hard to get these days".

"my dealer got his hands on a large batch" He says while handing me two of them. When I grab them he puts his in his mouth and looks at me. I do the same and we wait for them to dissolve. As we wait, I realize it is my turn to pick a song again. I put on rainbow factory and started bobbing my head. Once they dissolved I would have to ask him what he thought of the song. Then again, he would probably just give another neutral answer. "We should start tripping in about an hour" He tells me as we sit and listen to another song.

I was about to reply when a bright flash and explosion erupts below us. I looked at Tyler and he looked at me and shrugged. He had no idea what it was, so I tried to get up. Aaaaaaand I try again. Nope. No. Nada. I was stuck...

"Tyler?"

"yeah?"

"can you get up?"

"no....."

Just then, a tall black figure hopped up onto our little platform. "You two are perfect" it said coldly.

"Are you seeing this?" I asked Tyler. No reply. "Tyler?". I look over and see that he is gone and in his place is a swirling black pool. "what the f-" I was cut off as another one appeared under me and swallowed me whole. The last thing I remember is the black figure looking down toward me. I think it was.... smiling. Then darkness.

Author's Note

just a start to something i hope to create