a figure stepped into the room.

"i'm back." he said, brushing his hand against the walls.

he looked around the spacious place. pots of flowers were strewn all over the room, clustered neatly in one corner. hanging yarns of potted plants strung from the ceiling, gently swaying at the breezy wind.

the window was open. he had forgotten to close it.

he picked up the cassete tape laying over by the table and inserted it into the abandoned radio just by the windowpane. he walked over to the glass, careful not to knock any of the pots down.

"there we go." he sighed, closing the window.

you are my sunshine..

the song played. the boy, now left alone with the woman's voice and his own thoughts, took a step back to reflect at his beautiful creation.

there were plants of all types. every plant charmed him ; he was never bored of looking at them. nature was something he strongly cared for. and yet, this room was something else he wanted it to be.

he still couldn't find the perfect spot.

my only sunshine..

he closed his eyes.

as if time had rewinded, he re-opened them, seeing a cold, poorly-lit room where he had first found himself in. the place that he once wasted his childhood in.

the place that he called home.

but to him now, home was far away.

you make me happy..

then there back he was, sitting right beside the person he dearly remembers. his eyes, twinkling with light at the person he cherished. his smile, wider than the vast ocean, caused all by the person he clearly treasured.

the innocent boy that he once was.

right along with the person he loved.

and everything blew by right his very eyes.

when skies are grey..

the picture crumbled. the happy vision, filled with warmth and sunshine and the smell of the person he wanted to hug so badly- vanished in a blink; leaving him with the emptiness.

it gnawed at his empty heart like a numb parasite. the boy blinked slowly, opening his tired eyes.

the person had gone. all that remains was the cold touch that lingered by the messy bedsheets.

the sky had turned cloudy.

you'll never know, dear..

he bit his lip. he could vaguely hear the distant voices of his own, calling and chanting the name of the person that once lived in this very living space he was standing in.

he clenched his fists. the voice, replied back. this time, it was as clear as day, as soft as feathers and as tearful as gentle water ripples- he felt himself gradually slipping away.

oh, he wanted so badly to return to the past.

but he knew he couldn't.

how much i loved you..

the boy raised a hand to his cheek.

a tear streaked down.

"why?" he asked. "you promised."

the answer came almost as immidiately as the silent breeze that swept through the room. the bell that he had tied on a string; shook lightly with unhidden clarity. he could see- for a moment.

the flash of his hazy eyes.

the echo of that honey-dripping, sweet laugh.

the ring of the bell they had vowed their promise with.

another tear made its way down. "thank you."

please don't take..

"thorn?"

the boy turned around, only to be met by the warmest pair of brown eyes. his brother, dressed in the fairest black tuxedo and his matching tie, sighed audibly. "i knew you'd be here."

"i didn't know you were here."

"it's time." he said to the boy. "he's waiting."

thorn got up to his feet, wiping the tear away from his reddened cheek. he picked up a large pot he had brought in and walked towards an unclaimed spot in the room. he set it there.

"i'm ready." he lightly smiled and nodded in satisfication at the choice. "i was just saying goodbye."

his brother averted his brown eyes to the newly-grown sunflower plant. "that's a beautiful choice."

"i know." thorn replied, sadness looming over his heart. "sunflowers remind me of him the most."

my sunshine away..

"let's go then." his brother held thorn's shoulder for a short moment and walked out, leaving the younger boy behind to part with the past he had always remembered. for a second, he didn't want to leave.

but tomorrow was waiting.

he breathed and said in his most cheerful facade,

"goodbye, solar."

he closed the door behind him, and left the warm room of yellow flowers and bittersweet memories.

fin.