GUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
THIS IS VERY GOOD.
HELP.
This has affected me greatly. There's something so short and poignant about it. Dripping with this sort of bittersweet nostalgia and ending with either a hopeful outlook or the dreadful realization that you've just ruined things. I enjoyed both endings I will admit -- the melancholy one because I'm a sucker for having my heart ripped in two, and the hopeful one because I'm a sucker for bittersweet optimism mixed with convoluted feelings.
I quite enjoyed how simple this all was -- on the outside. But that once you start talking to Anthony and uncovering all these bits and pieces of the past, not only about your relationship with him but his relationship with his parents and friends, his struggles to figure himself out, of fighting against who he really is, and how that ended up ruining what he had with his fiance. And just... how Anthony himself feels so lost and confused and guilty about all of this. About everything. You can tell even just from the responses he gives and the way he carries himself how much built-up guilt he carries and these feelings that he's the one responsibility for all the lost relationships he's had over the years.
My heart hurt so much for him and everything that he's been through. And especially that feeling of just... not knowing where to go from here. Or what to do next.
I found it quite fitting that rushing to return to the idea of love is what ultimately sends him packing (yet again). And instead, not judging him, not rushing him, not pushing him into anything -- literally just giving him space, giving him room to talk, is what ultimately keeps him there and makes him feel secure enough that the thought of a renewed relationship is even within the realm of possibility. It was really nice and very sweet.
Just overall really really lovely. I assume this is just a quick one-shot and you probably won't be returning to these chars, but I really enjoyed this little glimpse into their lives and how much we came to understand them even despite the short length. I enjoyed this a lot!!! 💕