Ex-cessive Freedom

Five days had passed since the news hit. Simon had escaped rehab.

It was the usual kind of chaos. Everyone at the facility scrambled, trying to track him down, but Simon wasn’t just good at escaping; he was an artist. He slipped out like a shadow in the night, and just like that, he was gone.

Neon received the news on her communication chip. The notification popped up in front of her, a holographic message flashing: "Subject: Simon, Escape confirmed."

Her first thought was, Of course he did.

The second thought was darker. Should I be surprised?

She stared at the message for a moment before letting out a sharp laugh. “He’s the Houdini of rehab. If they could put him in a straitjacket, he’d still find a way to wriggle out. And somehow, I’m the idiot who thought this time would be different.”

She didn’t even feel angry, just... exhausted. She was used to this by now. Simon always had a way of making things look like they were about to turn around, only to take a sharp left and end up exactly where they started. He was a human wrecking ball in a world full of fragile glass. No one ever told him that maybe, just maybe, the world could do without the destruction.

She didn’t even bother responding to the facility’s message. There was no point. Simon was long gone, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. Some people just didn’t change.

Ash was sitting across from Neon later that evening. They were having a quiet drink. Well, as quiet as it could get, considering the chaotic mess that was their lives. Ash took a sip, then set his glass down with a soft sigh. “So, Layla and I... we’re doing great.”

Neon raised an eyebrow, a playful smile forming. “Oh, really? Should I start the applause now or wait until you’ve saved a kitten from a holographic tree fire explosion as well?”

Ash chuckled, but his smile was sincere. “No, seriously. I feel... I feel like I could fly. Like nothing could drag me down. You know?”

Neon tilted her head, glancing at him with a mix of envy and something else she didn’t want to admit. “That’s... actually kind of adorable. You’re gonna be one of those people who writes love songs now, aren’t you? 

“Hey, I’ve got my moments,” Ash replied. “But, no kidding. I’ve never felt this... free. And Layla? She’s incredible. It’s like we just... get each other, you know?”

Neon’s face softened. She really was happy for him, even if she didn’t show it. “That’s nice. I’m glad you two are happy together.”

Ash nodded, his smile slowly fading. “You don’t sound so sure about it. What’s going on, Neon?”

She sighed, leaning back in her chair. “It’s just... Simon, you know? I thought he was finally getting his shit together. But I knew deep down that he wasn’t going to change. Some people just... they just don’t. And I’m tired, Ash. Tired of hoping.”

“Yeah, but you tried. That’s more than a lot of people would do,” Ash said, his voice gentle. “And you shouldn’t carry all that alone.”

Neon rolled her eyes, trying to force a smile. “I’ve been carrying it alone since forever. But thanks. Really. It’s just that I gave him everything, and it still wasn’t enough. And now he’s gone again. It’s like some sick joke that keeps getting rewritten with every escape.”

Ash stayed silent for a while. He wanted to say more, but Neon was shutting herself down, and he didn’t want to push. Instead, he reached for his communicator. “Alright, enough about Simon. You wanna hear something ridiculous?”

Neon raised an eyebrow. “Always.”

“Okay, so Layla and I are in the middle of a heated debate about which pizza topping is superior. She’s all for mushrooms, and I’m like, Mushrooms? Really? That’s the best you can do?’”

Neon snorted. “Mushrooms? What is this, a crime scene?”

“I know, right? She says I’m ‘unrefined’ because I prefer pepperoni. As if pepperoni is a crime against nature.”

“Well, I’d side with you. Pepperoni’s a classic. Mushrooms, on the other hand... you might as well add a side of disappointment to that pizza.”

They both laughed, but it felt good. It felt like normal. The kind of normal that had been missing for a while.

Later that night, Neon found herself in the usual hangout spot with: Luke, Mark, Ash, and Layla. The tension in the air was palpable. They had all heard about Simon’s escape, and while they didn’t say anything outright, it was clear it was on everyone’s mind.

Mark, trying to break the silence, leaned back in his chair. “So, uh... Simon escaped, huh? That guy really knows how to make an exit.”

“Seriously,” Neon muttered under her breath, her fingers picking at the edge of her cup. “It’s like the wrold record in failing. ‘How to Fail Rehab 101.’”

Luke, who had been quietly watching her, finally spoke. “Neon, you know you don’t have to carry this by yourself, right?”

She looked up at him, surprised. “I’m fine. I can deal with it.”

“I’m not saying you can’t,” Luke said softly, “but I’m here if you need me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Neon studied him for a moment. Luke was always like this steady, dependable. The kind of guy who didn’t need to say much but still had this aura of calmness that everyone else could rely on. She gave him a small nod. “I know. Thanks.”

Mark watched the exchange between them, his expression unreadable. There was something in his chest that twisted. He had always been the one to step up, to be the one who offered the help, but with Neon... with everything going on, it felt like Luke was the one she needed. And that felt little bit wrong. But it wasn’t about him. Not right now. It was about Neon. 

Mark leaned forward, putting on a smile. “Well, if we’re not all crying about Simon’s latest stunt, I think we should move on to the important stuff.”

Neon glanced at him, confused. “The important stuff?”

“Yeah. We’ve got to figure out who’s paying for the pizza tonight. Because, seriously, I’m not carrying the load again, and I’m not about to let Ash walk away with a free meal just because he calculated the best price and everything.”

Ash smiled. “Hey, I’m a man of my word. I’m happy to cover the pizza if I get to tell the story of how Layla almost choked on a mushroom.”

“Oh, no,” Layla groaned, rolling her eyes. “Please don’t.”

But despite the joke, there was an unspoken understanding between them all. Neon was still hurting, but she wasn’t alone. Luke had stepped up. Mark had, too, even if he wouldn’t admit it. Ash and Layla, despite their playful bickering, were still there for her.

As the group joked and laughed, Luke’s eyes never left Neon. She was doing better than she had been, but there was still something fragile about her. He wouldn’t push her, but he’d stay close. He wasn’t going anywhere. And maybe, just maybe, that would be enough.

Mark, on the other hand, was sinking into his own head, pretending to be fine while nudging Luke a little closer to Neon. He knew Luke was what she needed right now, and maybe that was okay. But it didn’t stop the tightness in his chest.

Neon reached for another slice of pizza, still trying to push the darkness out of her mind. She couldn’t forget about Simon, she wasn’t that naïve, but she also couldn’t let him keep dragging her down. The world didn’t wait for anyone, not even for someone like Simon. She’d spent too much time trying to save people who didn’t want to be saved.

Maybe it was time to stop.

"Alright," she said, glancing at the others. "No more deep talks for tonight. Let’s just... let’s just have fun for once."

For the first time in days, it felt like they were actually having fun.

Neon suddenly stopped, glancing over her shoulder with a wicked smile creeping up her face. "Wait, are you actually having fun reading this?" She raised an eyebrow. "Did I forget how to do this 4th-wall thing, or am I just out of practice?" She winked and turned back around. "Guess we’ll never know."