January 1st, 2026 - Nostalgia Never Leaves

Pounding is the headache that drums between my skull. But joyous are my memories that reside in the same place.

I made my downstairs to find both of my guests awake, both doomscrolling. I started cleaning, I felt bad making them wait on me to bring them home. Martin helped me clean and repair the chair that Chris snapped last night. I applied the glue and the tape, I'd leave it for 24hours to set and hoped for the best. It was around 2 now, the idea of keeping the day going floated around the three of us and decided to go for it. We'd just need to drop off and pick up Drez. He wanted to pick up a couple of things from Walmart, I drove to the Argentia location. Closed. We drove all the way to Square, What. A. Shitshow. I have never seen it so packed. I told Drez to get out while Martin and I looked for parking, in the time it took for us to go up the parking structure and back down, the boy was done his shopping. He walked out empty handed, this whole trip was for nill. I dropped Drizzy off at Courtney and scooped Ry. We picked up a pizza and went home. I introduced the boys to Catacombs of Karak, we were a couple minutes into the game when Raj pulled up. We restarted the game and played one round before I had to go grab Drez.

Raj and I went to Courtney, and who would we see there if not Dennis? He was walking from the theatre, on break presumably. Raj thought it was him but didn't pursue, I rolled down the window and shouted his name. He stopped looked around, came back and I yelled again. He saw us and came over. As he made it to the car so did Drez. It was a little fun to see his waddle again. I dapped him up, he gave me his popcorn and poured his coke on my windshield. The guards upon my walls must have felt nostalgic. I could feel the gate lower. When we drove away I made sure to bring back up the draw bridge.

With Raj and Drez in the car, the talks about the league felt infinite. There was no end to their conversation. I made it home, inside and at the table with Martin and Ryan before the conversation ended and even then it was only on pause. We played another game of Karak with all five of us. MaRy had discovered the proper rules and it made the game so much better. We had a great time, it was something so special to me to have these people around me, it even completed the day to see Dennis. Maybe not have him there but the fact that he was a part of the day. I drove home Martin and Ryan, Drez and Raj stayed at my place.

The minute I got back in my house the talks of the league continued. They wanted to snoop through my files on my laptop but it wasn't working. I took them upstairs and we perused my desktop into the early hours of tomorrow. I made the mistake of having Pri come up in conversation. The guards on the wall must have fallen asleep, my bridge was lowered and I was completely washed up in nostalgia. Everytime I think I kill 23...


Talks of the league made it to 3 in the morning. I asked Raj to take Drez home. I couldn't drive. I think I walked them out... I think.