Two Letters That Change Everything

Anam Cara

| A person with whom you can share your deepest thoughts, feelings, and dreams with |

➳ ☾ ➳

The longest Callum had gone without saying a single word was fifteen minutes. And as Florence recalled, that was when they were fifteen, and he was dumbstruck after kissing his long-term crush Melissa Braddock.

The second-longest time was seven years ago when he received news that his grandfather died, where he stared blankly at his phone for ten minutes straight.

The third longest, and last, time was three years ago when he and Florence had a screamfest and ended up giving each other the cold shoulder, which didn't last longer than seven minutes.

But apparently, all those events don't come close to being left at the altar by the woman you thought you'd spend the rest of your life with because Callum remained quiet for the entire ride to his best friend's apartment. And for the first time in the twenty-six years Florence knew him, he didn't say a word for a whole half hour.

"I still have some of your old clothes from when we used to have sleepovers," Florence said, entering her bedroom with her best friend trailing behind her. She left him sitting at the edge of her bed while she rummaged through her drawers to find him a sweater and a pair of sweatpants. "They should still fit you. I don't think you've changed much in these three years. It's only your ego that's gotten bigger."

Her attempt at joking didn't get her the result she aimed for, but nonetheless, the boy smiled weakly at her and nodded in appreciation as she handed him the clothes.

She absentmindedly grabbed the first loungewear that her fingers found and left the room, giving Callum the privacy to change at his own pace while she headed towards her bathroom.

She took off her dress and shoes, opting for a sweater that engulfed her body and reached her mid-thigh along with a pair of knee-high socks, but truthfully, she remained dazed and lost in thought as the images of her best friend's pained expression flashed in her mind.

Even as she took off her makeup, she couldn't shake how Callum was staring out the car's window with misty eyes. She had never seen him like that, and she never wanted to.

Florence knocked lightly on her bedroom door, afraid that the hazel-eyed boy might be asleep. But as she crept inside, she found him sitting in the same spot with his tux discarded on the side while he played with his engagement ring like he was doing back at the venue.

She sighed and placed her things on the chair next to her vanity before walking towards him. What could she say to make things better? Absolutely nothing, she thought.

She kneeled next to him and held his hand in hers, secretly adoring the feeling of his big veiny hands in her soft and small ones.

Florence wanted him to stop looking at that damn ring, naive enough to believe that perhaps if he didn't, then the hurt would stop. But even with his slender fingers squeezing hers, his gaze didn't waver away.

She placed the palm of her other hand on his cheek and caressed him gently, the warmth of her touch causing him to meet her sky blue eyes, and his lips itched, the ghost of a smile appearing on his face.

The brunette stood up and reached for her dress and shoes to place them back in their place. She then walked to her vanity and started removing her jewelry. While taking off her bracelet, she felt a warm breath on her neck, which made goosebumps surface across her skin.

Callum's fingers were now in her hair, and she stared at him through the mirror as he removed the bobby pins that kept her bun steady. She watched him furrow his brows in concentration as he took out each one until her hair cascaded in waves and fell back to her shoulders.