Byler "Missed Calls"

After moving to California, Will Byers' life gradually began to improve. A new city, college, new friends. No one knew his past, asked about Hawkins, or looked at him with pity. Over time, he even started dating. The guys were different, but they always had something in common: dark hair, an awkward smile, a love of board games, or a habit of talking too quickly. Only years later did Will realize that he had been unconsciously searching for the same traits in each of them.

Mike Wheeler.

But none of them were able to replace him.

In Hawkins, time seemed to stand still. Mike graduated from high school, got a job, and tried to convince himself that life went on. Only in the evenings did his hand reach for the phone. He dialed the familiar number again and again, listened to the long dial tone, and left voicemails that never received an answer.

Every year the number of words increased.

He apologized for what he hadn't said. For what he hadn't understood. For his own blindness. He said he missed her. That he remembered every summer they spent together. That no girl had ever made him feel what he felt with Will.

And one day, after finishing another message, Mike finally said out loud what he was afraid to admit to himself.

He loved Will.

Across the country, Will accidentally replayed old voicemails that had accumulated over the years. He wanted to delete them all at once, but he couldn't stop himself. One message followed another, until the last one made him freeze. Mike's voice trembled, and his final words were almost a whisper.

For the first time in years, Will realized that they had both been running from the same feeling all this time.

And for the first time in many years, the finger hovered over the callback button.