Meet Me in Montenegro

The beach, bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun, sits under a sky that is like a canvas of warm hues, fading from deep orange near the horizon to soft pinks and purples higher up, with the first stars just beginning to twinkle. The sea is calm, its surface like a sheet of glass reflecting the colors of the sky, rippling gently with each whispering breeze. The air is warm and fragrant, carrying the faint scent of salt and wildflowers from the nearby cliffs. A lone seagull glides effortlessly across the sky, its call echoing softly in the distance. The world feels suspended in this tranquil moment, as if time itself is slowing down, allowing the beauty of the scene to linger just a little longer.

Oleksandr sits on the beach next to Thekkur, watching the sky slowly change to a darker color as they pass a stuffed pipe back and forth.

"I swear Olek, Samorix's eye nearly bulged from his head when he opened that door and found himself in our smoke-filled paradise." Thekkur snickers, rubbing his face.

Oleksandr laughs hard, slapping his knee. "Oh man... Bro... We are never hotboxing the baths ever again... I swear the smell is never coming out."

Thekkur laughs heartily at Oleksandr's words, the memory of their escapade in the bathhouse coming back vividly. He nods, a wide grin on his face. "You're right, bro... Samorix's face was priceless. I thought he might actually pass out.” Oleksandr passes the pipe back to Thekkur.

"You know..." He glances over at him and watches him blow smoke from his nostrils. "This is a good memory. You just got back from staying at your girlfriend’s place. Man. I miss you, brate."

Thekkur looks back at Oleksandr, his smile a little somber. He takes another draw from the pipe and exhales. "I miss you too, bro," he says quietly, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness, smiling softly. "We used to have a lot of good times, didn't we?”

"Yeah. So many... I can't recall a dull moment with you. Even the worst times didn't feel so bad. I even miss when you'd mock me in my head. Hah…" Thekkur laughs at Oleksandr's words, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

"Yeah, I remember that... always giving you crap and making fun every time you would mess up. And you'd always just roll your eyes and call me every curse word in the Rus language.”

Oleksandr studies the side of Thekkur's face. "It's weird... I look at my reflection and I watch myself age. And I imagine it's what you'd look like if you were still around.” He pauses, his eyes flickering over his brother as he faces him again. “You never got the chance to age." Thekkur lets out a sigh, his smile fading. He takes another draw from the pipe before passing it back to Oleksandr.

"You know... I never really thought about it like that." He says quietly. "It's kind of a mind-bender, when you think about it. I mean, I died young, and here you are, still carrying on. Time is a weird thing, isn't it... Sometimes it goes too quickly, and sometimes it feels like it's standing still.”

"Time stands still for you. But it keeps passing for me. We did everything together, but we no longer experience the present together." Thekkur nods slowly, his face solemn.

"Yeah, that's true. It's like I'm frozen in time... While you're still living, experiencing things without me. It's like we're out of sync, you know what I mean?” The two sit in silence for a moment, the only sound coming from the crashing waves as they stare out at them.

Oleksandr takes a deep breath before muttering, "I sometimes wonder what things would be like if you were still alive." He says, almost to himself.

"How's Amalthea..?" Oleksandr's expression softens at the mention of that name.

"Amalthea..." he muses. "She's... she's doing well. She's still the same fierce, fiery woman as always. I visit her from time to time. I bought her that property you wanted to get her after you married. I visit here and there, I just saw her a couple of moons ago. Help with maintenance, tending the field, those types of things." He hesitates for a moment, his expression turning somber. "But it's not the same, you know. She misses you. A lot. She stopped dancing after you died." He sighs. "Sometimes," he continues, "when we're all sitting around the table... We fall silent, and in those moments, it's like we can all feel your absence. It's like there's an empty place at the table. Like we're waiting for you to say something or show up... And you never do.”

"No, man. I'm dead. It's quite peaceful, actually." Oleksandr looks at Thekkur, his expression becoming a bit more serious.

"Yeah, I know you are," he replies quietly. "I've visited your grave, y'know. Just to keep your memory alive. I feel... I feel closer to you there, somehow.”

Thekkur looks away, avoiding Oleksandr's gaze. “Have you been there recently?”

“No. Why?”

Thekkur shakes his head, “it's nothing.” He pauses, looking over at Oleksandr.

"You need to stop being so sad all the time, brother." Oleksandr lets out a deep sigh, his expression becoming more thoughtful.

"Maybe you're right," he concedes. "But it's hard to not be sad, you know? I lost you. My other half is no longer here. It's like... like a part of me is missing. A severe, integral part of me.”

"I know, but you're still alive. You didn't die with me. I know you wish you did, but you didn't." Oleksandr's face falls, his expression turning grim.

"Yeah... You're right... I didn't die with you. Sometimes I feel like I did. Your body died, and your soul left, but my body remains now, soulless. I feel like I've been wandering with a hole in my heart this entire time... Like I just can't get closure. You've moved on... but I'm still here, with this empty feeling inside. You took my heart with you.”

"You know I'm at peace, right? I'm okay.” Oleksandr nods slowly, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Yeah, I know you're at peace," he replies quietly. "And I'm glad you are. You deserve that. But knowing you're at peace... It doesn't fill this hole in my chest, man. You were... everything to me. Losing you was like losing a part of myself, like I lost a limb.”

Thekkur looks his brother over, his face sympathetic but serious. "I know. But we'll be together again soon. Life is... shorter than you think. Eternity is forever." Oleksandr nods slowly, a sense of resignation in his eyes.

"Yeah... I know we'll be together again in the end. But that doesn't make the time in between any easier, you know? Life is fleeting. We live for a tiny moment in the grand scheme of things. But when you lose everything, even a single year can feel like an eternity.”

“You didn't lose everything. You still draw breath. You'll love again, big brother."

"I don't know, man," he says quietly. "It's hard to imagine loving again. Loving someone else the same way I loved you. You were like... You were a part of me, Thekkur. How can I ever love someone the same way I loved you?” Thekkur puffs the pipe, looking over at Oleksandr seriously as he passes the pipe to him.

"It'll be a different kind of love. You'll find a good girl, and she'll love you. I know you still haven't been in love before, but you'll know it when you are. It will mend your broken heart. I'm not saying you will forget or replace me, but that hole in your heart will be filled. Also, one day you'll have children. You'll love them more than me." Oleksandr looks at Thekkur, a hint of disbelief in his eyes.

"More than you?" He says, a slight edge to his voice. "How could I love them more than you? You were... you are my other half. My twin, my family, my best friend, my soulmate. How could I possibly love anyone more than that?”

"When you gaze into the face of your child for the first time, you'll know." Oleksandr goes silent at Thekkur's words, his expression becoming stoic. He looks out at the waves, his mind lost in thought. After a moment, he responds quietly.

"Maybe... maybe you're right. But... it won't be the same, you know? Nothing can replace what you and I had. And... we were supposed to raise our kids together. That was the plan. But the plan... it's all ruined now. All wrong."

Thekkur nods slowly, his face sympathetic. "Yeah, it does suck. If I had my way, I'd still be around to help you raise those damn kids. But life... life doesn't always go the way we plan, does it? Sometimes you have to adapt." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "But you got to keep going, get your shit together. For my sake. You've got to live your life to the fullest. You have to make me proud. Because I'll be watching, brate. And if you spend the rest of your days moping around like this, I'll kick your ass.” Oleksandr nods, passing the pipe back.

"Yeah... I'll try."

Thekkur smiles, "that's all I ask," he says. "Just try. For me. Don't let your life be defined by my absence. Move on, live, love. And remember me fondly, but don't let my memory hold you back. Because trust me, I'll be watching, and I'll come back to haunt your ass if you mope around too much.” Oleksandr smirks, his eyes remaining wistful and sad.

"I wouldn't mind if you came to haunt me." Thekkur laughs, a hint of mischievousness in his eyes.

"Oh, I'll definitely haunt you, bro. You won't be able to get rid of me. I'll be like a damn poltergeist. Throwing things around, making weird noises in the night, and whispering creepy things in your ear.”

"You already did that shit while you were alive." Oleksandr chuckles. Thekkur laughs heartily, leaning back on his hands.

"Damn right I did. I was a pain in your ass even when I was alive. But just you wait, man. I'll go supernatural on your ass. My haunting skills have improved since I kicked the bucket. I'll be ten times more annoying now.” Thekkur pushes himself up, dusting the sand off his pants and putting his white tunic back on. Oleksandr watches him, his face changing with confusion.

"Where are you going?" Thekkur looks at Oleksandr, smiling gently.

"I gotta go, Olek," he says quietly. "My time here is up. We talked and laughed just like we used to. But I've got to go now." He turns and starts to walk away. Oleksandr's expression becomes more dismayed as he stands up, looking at his twin, pleading.

"But... wait... You can't go yet. We were having a good time. Just... just stay a little longer.” Thekkur stops and looks behind him for a moment.

"Alright. Just a bit longer."

They sit back down and Oleksandr clasps Thekkur's hand tightly, reluctant to let go of his brother again. They sit in silence, watching the waves crash against the shore. The moon shines brightly in the night sky, casting a cool glow over them. Oleksandr watches Thekkur's profile, taking in the familiar features of his face, fearful of ever forgetting them.