Stranger to stranger

Love?

Monday morning wasn't so bad. In fact, I think it's the best Monday I have ever had in my entire life. As much as I hate to admit it, school didn't totally suck today. I thought this day would never come. In all seriousness, I'm too curious to know what the third letter holds to wait another minute. I waited all day because last time, when I opened it in the morning, the day passed way too slowly. And so, I waited all day to come back home and open the letter with a clear mind. I couldn't open it yesterday night because I knew I would want to go find the fourth letter right away. Which, at that time, was not an option because it was too late at night. But, this afternoon, my mom won't be home from work until seven. I have all afternoon to myself. Plus, The suspense has been killing me ever since I found the letter yesterday. I hid the letters in my closet again but under the carpet on the floor because my mom took the shoe box. She never goes into my room and probably never will. I reach into my closet to get the third letter. I sit on my bed to open it gently. I've been waiting for this for many hours now. I get comfortable on my pillow and read:

Dear stranger,

You found the third letter, congratulations. I brought you to this book shop because it is very dear to me. I spent most of my free time with John. We would tell each other stories and play cards. A few times, we even borrowed each other's books and put comments in them for the other to see. John is a very close friend of mine. I thought he would be the perfect example of the next subject I want to introduce you to: love. He told you about his wife didn't he? He told me the same story when I came to his store for the first time. I picked up the book and he just started talking to me out of nowhere. I didn't buy the book but, that day, I had a great time with a new friend. He is a man full of love to give and never asks anything in return. He gives for the joy of giving. I think it represents what love is. When you love something deeply, you would give your life to it if it meant it would live. When you love, you give your all in hopes they accept it and return the gesture. Love is something that can't be explained and will remain so for the rest of eternity. You get lost in this feeling of constant drowning. Be aware, this specific drowning doesn't kill you but gives you life. The waves feel like a hug. The curent rocks you to peace. Water can never feel so relaxing. When it's gone, you're dry. All that is left is cold air burning your lungs. Just like a fish without its water or the earth without its sky. Two souls come together in a perfect balance. They lean on each other in a way that keeps them solid. if one does move, they both fall to the ground. Often, people falsely assume that love is all rainbows and unicorns. It is a complete lie. Love comes with challenges and sacrifices. It is scary to think that you give so much to someone that could be out of your life by tomorrow. That fear isn't worth listening to though. Love is worth every second of every heartbreak. Trust me, it's something you don't want to miss and probably never will because love is all around us. It is in family reunions, in sleepovers with friends and in date nights with your lover. Everybody can love and everybody is lovable, always remember that. For your next assignment, I want you to reflect on love by creating a friendship. Not with anybody, but with John. You will never get bored with him and you don't have to be scared in any way. That man wouldn't hurt a fly. Go to his shop and ask about his wife. I'm sure he would love the company since a bookshop can get quite lonely. Plus, I want you to read the book you found this letter in. You probably know the story because of John already. This book taught me a lot of things about love that I didn't understand. Reflect on it. That said, it could be a subject of conversation you could bring up with John. He loved talking about the book with me, I'm sure he will with you.

Ps: I'm where the title says.

In hopes you find a sky someday,

Another stranger.

'I'm where the title says'? That's an easy one, isn't it? I take the book that I put earlier this morning in my drawer under my clothes. I hold it close to my face to read very clearly the words: Our painted memories. I know the fourth location now. It's only logical that the next letter is at the nearest art gallery. I take my phone and search it up on google. It's a 20 minutes walk from here which isn't much. I'm way too excited to get started again. It hasn't been long, but I still missed this little hunt of mine. I have something other than writing to do now. I'll start writing again when I'm done with all of this. Now that I think about it, I'll maybe get to meet the stranger. I would love to meet him in real life and get to meet him. I bet his story is very interesting. I wish to talk to him in the future. I better get this done if I want it to be true. I have to read the book  before I move on into the next hunt, that's what the first letter said: 'You have to do everything the six letters say, not moving forward to another letter without accomplishing the one before.' That also means I'll have to talk to John before moving on to the art gallery. I'll start by reading the book and then I'll stop by to talk about it with him. I have a feeling that he's a person full of stories to tell. I take my favorite blanket and head downstairs to see my mom who's reading in the backyard. She's sitting where she always sits, the chair farthest to the door. I open it to sit next to her with the book in my hand. I took the time to scoop over a few times to get closer to her. I can now put the blanket over both of our chairs to keep us warm. She smiles and says a soft 'Thank you'. I smile back and she opens her book without asking any further questions. The book doesn't seem as old as the other books you're used to seeing in a bookshop. Well, in that bookshop specifically. The book is covered with a dark green tissue that feels soft to the touch. Everything on the book cover is written in a dark gold calligraphy which gives the impression that it has been written with ink. I turn the book over to read the short description of the story. It really does seem lovely. It's very well written and well thought out. Suddenly, my jaw drops to the floor as I read the author's name, John Bayers. Could it really be? He's the one who wrote this? I couldn't be sure because I don't even know his last name but, in a way, it would make sense. That's why he said his wife thought the main characters seemed like them. It would be adorable for it to be true. I'm even more invested in this book now that I know the book shop worker wrote it. Is it about their story? If so, I know why the stranger wanted me to read it since it's a close friend of his. The thought of reading a beautiful story like theirs brings a smile to my face. I'll read it with all the thought in the world. I turn the book over again and turn over the first page. 'To the sky of my earth' is written in the center of a white blank page. It is definitely John who wrote this book for his wife. I turn the second page over and start to read it.