after my love died

the letters

"There's a dead woman in the alley!" called the servant, while Alma Fillcot ran out the restaurant.

Scooter hurried to the servant and asked what the woman looked like.

"S-She wore a brown dress, simple but elegant as most people'll say. She had raven hair, and was pretty. One of the most gorgeous women I've seen." the man stuttered.

"Has she been here before?" Scooter asked as calm as he could. But he was far from that. There was a chance Rita was dead and although he betrayed her many times, he cared for her. A lot.

"Yes, sir. I've never spoken to her, but she was the president of the Garden Club. Re-, Ra-"

"Rita fucking Castillo!" Scooter snapped and before the servant could answer, he dived into the crowd.

He pushed everyone in his way aside. Mavis kicked him -who knew that woman could be violent?- and others yelled at him. But Scooter didn't care. Rita, his girl, his way out L.A., his savior, the woman he gave everything up for, could be dead and that was all that mattered.

He stormed through the back door and made his way through the crowd outside.

A blonde woman in an ice blue dress with a matching hat sat sobbing by the body.

Scooter recognized her as Rita's best friend, Grace Berk.

He knelt next to the woman. Tears formed in his eyes when he saw Rita's face.

She was pale and her eyes were wide open. You could still see the fear and shock in them. She laid in a pool of blood and blood still dripped from her dress. He checked her pulse to make sure the servant was right. And he was.

Rita Castillo was dead.

"Oh, Rita." Grace sobbed, "I never should've told you. You'd live if I said nothing. I'm so sorry, Rita."

Scooter let his tears fall and cried for a minute. He wanted to cry longer, he wanted to cry the entire day. But he couldn't. Not now. He needed to appear strong for himself. He never wanted to care for her, but he did and it was killing him.

"Is that Rita?!" Mavis screamed hysterically and ran to her friend.

Scooter knew Rita and Mavis never were really close, but Rita liked Mavis a lot. She saw her as a friend.

"Can you help me?" Scooter asked the two sobbing women. Both nodded. "I'll pull the... thing out of her and you need to turn her on her back." "Why?" Mavis asked softly. "She'll look peaceful." "But she was murdered!" the red-head argued. "I know that, but she doesn't deserve to lay like this. She looks to fragile to be Rita Castillo like this." "Okay." Mavis nodded and went silent. "Grace?" the blonde nodded. "You and Mavis turn her around when this thing is out, okay?" she said nothing and Scooter saw it as a 'yes' .

He exhaled deeply before the pulled the iron rod out her body. It went smoothly and didn't create the mess he thought it would. He threw the blooded rod away from the crowd and Rita.

Mavis and Grace turned her over as agreed and revealed another stab wound. Grace screamed and buried her face in Mavis' shoulder, who was crying again.

Scooter also wanted to cry, but didn't.

He wanted to go away and let Rita lay in peace, but then he saw an envelope on the ground. He picked it up and read the text that was written in beautiful and curly letters.

When you find this, I'm dead. But all the words written here come from my beating heart. X Rita

With a weird feeling in his stomach, Scooter opened the envelope and unfold the letter.

"What is that?" Grace asked with a thick voice. "A letter from Rita." Scooter chocked out. "You can read it after me." and with that, he started reading.

I've written a part for everyone. For all my special people with a place in my heart and for those I need to apologize to.

For Scooter, my love,

I'm very sorry to leave you like this. I know we were going to New York and I hope you still will. I know I wasn't always nice and kind to you, especially about your career. But I believe now you'll make it. I forgive you for everything and I love you so much. I always did. Now that I'm gone, I'm going to ask you to love again. Not for money, not for fame, not for luxury, but love. Find a girl you love more than life itself and go for it.

I love you,

Rita.

For my dearest Grace,

Scooter wanted to stop reading, but he needed to cover his tears. So he started to read further, although it wasn't for him.

For my dearest Grace,

Oh, Grace. I want to thank you for everything. You're the best friend someone could ask for. I wish you all the luck with "Chocolate chip cookie". Yes, I still use the nickname. Knowing you, you'll probably blame yourself for my death, but this isn't your fault. This is only Alma's fault. I needed to confront her, I wanted to and like you can see it got out of hand. You may have given me the idea that Alma could've murdered Carlo, but I decided this. So, please don't blame yourself. I'll miss you, sweetheart.

Love,

Rita.

For the ladies of the Garden Club,

my friends. I had an amazing time with you all. And I know I wasn't the nicest. Forgive me for that, please.

X Rita.

For my lawyer,

thank you for borrowing your wife's best dress and don't forget your promise about your second wife! She deserves to walk in more than that dress.

Goodbye,

Rita.

For Alma Fillcot,

I know you hate me, and, to be honest, I hate you too. Since you killed me. I hope you'll join me in the afterlife very soon.

Rita.

For Vern Loomis,

I'm sorry I couldn't pay you. Good luck with Mrs. Loomis and the baby.

Rita.

I'm with Isabel now, so don't worry about me. It's finally time to be proper cousins.

and with that the letter ended. Scooter passed it over to Grace, who started to cry again by the sight of Rita's handwriting. Now, Scooter also cried, he didn't care about all the others who watched.

But he promised he'd do what Rita wanted. He'd love again.

I hope you liked it!