A World Between - 8. Letter 8 (Revised)

Ryan, do you remember the school project we worked on about Chernobyl. Why did we pick that? I can't remember, it's funny. Something so fucked up can be so beautiful. Humans, I guess, are natural-born disasters waiting to happen. I don't know why we both liked the idea of a nuclear disaster, but I think it felt like an adventure on our end. What if we both ran away together and went to Chernobyl to explore, just like you said; do you remember when you asked me?

"One day, we can run away and go explore Chernobyl together."

Of course, it wasn't precisely doable, not to mention a colossal ocean between us and Ukraine, but what if we actually, I don't know, went to the fallout zone? It would have been our little retreat where we would have been the kings and everything we said as the gospel truth was the law of the land. It would be like the twenty-first-century version of Where The Wild Things Are, I know it. The two of us could have had an extraordinary time. I miss that, you know, dreaming together. We did a lot together. It's sad to think everything is going on without you. It's like nobody honestly cares if you're gone or not. Well, I do, I still care, even if they don't. We made so many plans together it's impossible to count. I remember when you said you'd love to go to Hollywood to become a movie star, but now that you are gone, I can't say you'll have a slice of Hollywood. Or when the time we said we both love to be cowboys and astronauts, I'm not sure why the idea appealed so much, but I guess we both were just natural-born pioneers.

Though you are exploring a new vast land that I haven’t got a ticket for just yet, which makes me feel powerless. I can't perceive the outcome, but I know someday I'll explore it with you. As for the way the project turned out, I can't say I liked it - did you? I mean, we totally rushed it, but that was because we were too busy climbing trees and stuff. Who has time to write things down when you're off exploring? I hope you're off exploring wherever you are.

Anyway, I have to go. I'm like starving. I need to eat something. Hmm… now a new thought is lodged in my head. I hope there is food on the other side, if not, then can you let me know. I’ll save you something tasty.

Jake.