Notes From Afar

1. Don't throw me away

Romeo and Juliet, the world's biggest fantasy of love. People say when you're in love, you'll know, there's no second-guessing yourself. I'm not sure if that's true. It seems like every school in the world is doing a Romeo and Juliet play, I think Shakespeare is overrated, I mean, how likely is it for someone to be so in love they'd die for each other? I'm not against love but, c'mon people.

"Hon, I picked up the mail, feel free to look at it, I'm heading to work now." My dad said, walking out the door.

"Okay dad, have a good day!" I shouted towards the door.

I walked over towards the door, there was a stack of mail on the small table beside it. I looked through the pile and found a couple of bills and a letter. I picked up the letter and looked at it, wondering if I should be the one to open it. I gave in and tore open the envelope, it held a handwritten letter. The penmanship was outstanding! The letter had no name, and the address had faded away, I didn't think much of it so I ran upstairs and sat on my bed, slowly glancing over the contents of the letter. 

"Dear Julia, my dear sister, it's been a while since we've talked, I figured you've changed your number so I don't call anymore. I wonder the next time we'll meet if we do. Since you went to college mom has been going insane and I don't know what to do with her, I'm not sure if you'll write back but mom really misses you, she asked me to tell you that, you know. I do too, it's just not really the same.    Sincerely,        

                                                                                     N.W."

I don't think this letter is for me, I whispered to myself. There was no name, but there was a return address. I guess I could just throw it away, I thought, while looking at my watch.

"Oh shoot, Lisa! Come on we're going to be late!" I yelled, darting down the stairs and out the door, stuffing the letter into my bag.

Great, the first day and we're already late, I mean the first day is nothing special, I've been going to this high school since I was a freshman and now I'm a junior. Before you get too ahead of yourself, I'm nobody special, I'm not a loner, I'm not popular, I guess I'm just plain normal, it's kind of cool when you think about it.

I dropped off my sister, Lisa, and drove to school. When I arrived, I hopped out of the car and made my way through the school doors and into the hallways. I waved to a few people before I laid eyes on Hannah and Jasper, my favorite, and only friends.

"Hey beautiful, what are you doing in the looney bin?" Jasper joked.

"Same thing you are" I replied, smiling sarcastically.

"Hannah here has begun expressing her love for a dead poet" he laughed.

Hannah sighed, rolling her eyes. "Just because I dress in black doesn't mean I'm obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe."

"Yeah yeah, whatever, nobody said anything about Edgar Allan Poe." Jasper laughed.

Hannah shoved Jasper playfully.

"Well, I have places to be, people to see." Hannah laughed practically skipping to class.

"She's too excited for her English class" I groaned.

As Jasper and I walked to class we began talking about anything and everything we could think of.

"Hey, did I tell you what happened to me this morning?" I began, "I found a letter in the mail."

"Oo was it juicy?" He asked.

"Not really, something about a guy that lost contact with his sister" I shrugged.

"Lame" he sighed, "Do they go to our school?"

"I doubt it, their initials were like N.W. or something," I said, entering the English classroom, throwing my bag over a desk.

"You should write back, like a hot pen pal" He joked.

"Yeah, no," I laughed, "I'll let some other girl have 40-year-old Uncle Daryll on her list of to date or not to date."

"Or let some other girl have a hot pen pal" he sighed.

"Let her go for it" I replied.

"Well you should at least write back, it would be rude not to," he started, "And how do you know it's a guy?"

"I don't," I said, not caring.

"Then write them back and find out, duh" he retorted.

"I bet you $10 it's a girl in her
40s looking for her long-lost sister." I answered back.

"Beats me, but that'd be a woman, not a girl" he said, getting into his seat while Mr. Andrews began the lesson.

Forty-five minutes had passed and I couldn't stop thinking about the letter.

"That's it for the lesson, read page 16 in your English textbook and follow the rules listed for the assignment, class dismissed." Mr. Andrews stated.

Half of the class began walking out the door and I just sat there thinking about the letter.

Jasper tapped me, "You coming?"

"Yeah" I replied, grabbing my bag and jacket and heading out of the classroom.

Three more class periods passed by, it was now lunch.

I received a text from Hannah.

"Jasper and I are waiting for you, the third table to the right, in the back."

I responded.

"Be there in a bit, got held up."

I headed out to the bleachers and sat there, taking out the letter from my bag.

I took out a piece of paper and began scribbling down words.

"Hey, I'm Emily, I don't think this letter was meant for me but neat handwriting! I'm not sure if I should be writing to you, for all I know I could be talking to a 40-year-old man named Daryll, never mind. Anyway, sorry your letter didn't get to the right recipient, but who knows, maybe it did. See you around, 'N.W.'

                   - E.R.