Steve (kiss)

The sun was setting, the sky was golden, but in my heart it had long been night. I stood at the ruined portal to the Nether, as I had every day for the past two months. It was here, amid the crimson flames, that Steve had disappeared.

He went to stop the ancient evil. I begged him to take me with him, but he just smiled and said:

• You have to stay. If I don't come back... live. Promise.

I didn't have time to say anything. He hugged me - and stepped into the portal. The light flashed... and he disappeared.

I waited. Every day. I went to the portal, built a tower, as if it could help him come back. My friends said, "He won't come back." But they didn't understand: he was a part of me. And I couldn't let go.

On the sixty-second day, the sky was gray. I came again — and suddenly felt the heat. The portal flared, like that day. A silhouette emerged from the flames. Wounded, but painfully familiar. It was him. Steve.

He saw me and whispered:

• Alex...

I rushed to him. His embrace was weak, but alive. We stood in silence, and then… I just kissed him.