Warmth | ✔️ #wattys2021

42. sunflowers

"Fuck!" The birthday girl swore as the door rang. It was almost midnight, who else could it be if it wasn't a neighbor annoyed by the loud noises?

Adeline got up from her place and opened the door.

It was definitely not a neighbor.

"Hey! Are you Miss Marts?" The stranger asked.

As she didn't answer for a few seconds, the unfamiliar man sensed her discomfort and added: "I have a personal delivery for you. You are Adeline Marts, aren't you?"

"Yes...yes, I am." She said uncertain as to what would await her.

"Here you go." The man said and gave her a big brown paper bag.

"Uhm...thank you?" Adeline said and he left. She didn't really know what to think of what just happened, besides what was in that bag?

Her friends were still in the living room having fun and Adeline started to unpack the bag. Inside, was a card and a big bouquet of sunflowers. She started to become anxious, having an idea from whom it might be and for the first time that night her head was spinning disturbingly much as she was eagerly trying to find out who the sender was.

The card was pretty, blue with a yellow smiling sun on it, she opened it, both sides were full with text. On the right side, on the bottom of the card she read the words that confirmed her suspicion: Yours sincerely, Adam. She could swear her heart stopped beating for a second.

"Adeline what is it? Are you coming back or what?" Jenna asked. She was going to read it later, in peace she decided,

Entering the living room again Jenna asked who it was.

"No one, wrong door!" She lied, still a bit bamboozled and luckily none of them asked any more questions. What would he even want from her?

By one am everyone left and said their goodbye's and although Adeline was more than tipsy and tired she closed the door of her room behind her, switching on the light on her nightstand and began to read.

Dear Adeline,

I know this might be surprising but I wouldn't ever forgive myself if I didn't tell you the following things.

First off, happy birthday love! Jim told me him and Nora were invited to your party, that's how I know about it. I only wish you the best in life, darling. I wish you happiness, health and success, you deserve all of these things.

Secondly, congrats on your new job! Mia told me about your visit in the ER and that you are going to move to Bristol. I hope this job is everything you want it to be and that Bristol will be good to you. I also hope that no matter which bone it is you broke, will heal soon (Mia is very strict about her confidentiality, although I could worm this detail out of her).

You may wonder why I sent this package to you so late at night. The truth is, I am afraid I'll ruin your birthday if I send this to you any earlier. I know we aren't on the best terms at the moment and that this is pretty much my fault. So, this is also an apology.

That day we met, was not a very good day for me and while that should not be an excuse I want you to know why. The day before, Rebecca left me.

It was not like I loved her, nor was she just a distraction, but she wasn't you either. I was very easy irritable and I did not expect to hear you apologizing to me there and then. I am sorry, I said some terrible things to you and I lied when I said that I loved you, past tense. Sometimes I wish it would be different but you are inevitable for me. If you want to talk you can call me any time, don't think I'm asleep when you are reading this, properly the opposite.

Yours sincerely,

Adam, xx

Adeline was shaking once she was trough the letter. He still loves her?

Once she realized his words fully she knew she had to see him, no rational thought had any space in her head anymore, "Run!", it said.

you can call me any time... But she didn't have his number anymore, she just realized. She deleted it after the fight, thinking it was useless to keep, too much of a temptation.

George had it, but he was asleep already for sure, as anyone else was...it was almost 2am after all, but she just couldn't wait.

Was he in London at the moment? She asks herself and checked his socials. Nothing, no new story or post.

Adeline started googling him and found an article in the daily mail, terrible pretentious headline but that did not matter, there was a picture of him. It was him for sure, even if his blue beanie did a good job hiding it. Subtitle: Adam Talley on a run in London, August 21.

This was it, she thought, he's so close.

Adeline put on a hoodie that was supposed to protect her from the chilly night air and filled her purse with her keys and wallet. She ran down the stairs and out on the street trying to find a cab. It was windy, about to rain probably and the only light that helped her see anything was given by one single streetlight next to her house. There was no one there except for her.

Originally, she thought she could get a cab, but she didn't know where the next cab station was and no car would come by coincidentally, not by this hour. The underground station would be too dangerous at this hour too.

But her own car was parked at the end of the street. It wasn't a long drive to Adam's house and the streets seemed to be fairly clear, she just had to be careful.

Once sat in her car she was grateful for the warmth the closed room gave her. She started her car and turned on the headlights, reversed out of the parking spot and began driving. Her ankle still hurt, she just noticed but kept on driving. Adeline took the route on the southern side of the Thames, wanting to avoid the packed city center. She was near Burgess park, about to cross Vauxhall Bridge when she stood on a red flashlight, that turned yellow, then green and her foot just couldn't reach the gas pedal because of her splint.

She looked down to the pedals, her hands loosely on the steering wheel when she suddenly did reach the gas pedal and uncontrollably crashed against the pole of the flashing light.

THE END

A/N: I really hoped you liked my attempt at writing this book, if you did please don't forget to vote and comment. Drive safely.

pic: https://dy1yydbfzm05w.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/cache/39b52c4cabb46819553175347e38b212/f/b/fbx_-_sunflower-x20-vase-w-candle-no-ribbon.jpg