Epilogue

                                    

                                          

IT WAS in October when Mark Fischbach's parents left for St. Louise Prison, just a month after that night in the hospital that seemed like so long ago. There was a trial, but Mark's bruises across his ribs that were still healing were evidence enough of the abuse. 
                          
His mother was only sentenced to ten years for child neglect and was already out, (though she wasn't allowed to come in contact with Mark, thank god), and that damn man was sentenced to forty years in prison for child abuse, assault, sexual assault, and rape.
                          
The night air was chilly. The man with the bright green hair sat on his balcony, watching the moon rise into the night sky. There was something peaceful about it, perhaps, just sitting and watching nature follow it's routine around him.
                          
His pocket chimed, and he pulled out his phone, reading the text from one of his contacts, Felix. An invitation to some sort of bar party; the green haired man declined. 
                          
Sorry, I would, 
he texted his friend, 
but it's our anniversary tonight.
                          
The green haired fellow clicked his phone off, sliding it back into the dark abyss of his pocket. Just as he did this, the sound of a door opening and closing was heard, and another man sat down close beside him. 
                          
The green haired man and the red haired man looked at each other, love shining in their eyes. They took each other's hands, the hands with the wedding bands on them, and held on tightly as if unwilling to ever let go.
                          
Two years ago today, they exchanged vows in the backyard of their loft. Two years ago today, they made a mutual promise to love each other until the end of time under an arch dotted with cherry blossoms.
                          
Back in highschool, all those years ago, this was never supposed to happen. They were Jack and Mark, day and night, victim and bully. But, undoubtedly, they were also the sunset, where day and night clashed together to create something aimlessly beautiful. Regardless of whatever odds were against them - like Mark's parents and friends, like Jack's doubt - they always pushed through. Because they were in love, and they always had been, from the very start as those children sitting behind the bleachers with shining eyes and secret kisses. Through it all, they were beautifully, tragically, and undoubtedly in love. 
                          
It wasn't going to be easy. They were both mutually aware of this, of course; it wasn't going to be easy, because it never was for the two of them.
                          
But they would get through it. They always did.
                          
They were Jack and Mark, after all.

                          
END.