Book of One-Shots and Short Stories

Lucky Letters Part #6

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: Hey guys, welcome back to another post. Now I know I might have seemed to be dead in all the time I haven't posted, but umm the website was having some issues which lead me to not be able to post. Anyway, I am going to make LUcky Letters a full-on novel and actually try to publish it when I am finished with it. This obviously will take some time so through that time I will continue on posting different short stories and post Lucky Letters once it is officially finished. With that said, this will be the last part of lucky letters for now. I hope you guys understand! Sorry for the delay. Let's get on with the story now:)

I snatched my door open and popped on my air bubble before heading outside into the vastness of the ocean. I tried to walk or dare I say, swim towards Westin's house. A bag of my brother's last belongings was tightly clenched in between my fingers. I turned around the corner and walked a few more blocks reaching the obsidian door of Westin's home. I knocked three times before the door flung open to reveal a rather unruly-looking Westin. His hair was a tangled mess, his t-shirt was crooked and his pajama pants were half up half down. He looked flustered to see me, and I realized it was 7 am; I must have woken him up. I slapped myself mentally for being so unreasonable. I realized I was staring too long and blushed before stepping towards the house.

"Hey," Westin breathed out, his voice was hoarse and scraggly but sounded very welcoming. He smiled a troublemaker grin and gestured for me to come in.

"Hey," I replied. "I am soo sorry, I hadn't realized it was this early, and I really had to see you, because I found something. I am so sorry, I knew I should have looked at the time-" I realized I was rambling when Westin started to chuckle.

"Anthea, calm down, it's fine; I was bound to wake up anyway. Plus, I don't mind the company, it gets lonely in here." He smiled once more, making me sigh in relief.

"Oh thank god, I really need to show you something," I replied, smiling back at him. He beckoned me towards the kitchen counter where 3 tall, wooden stools were placed beside a rectangular table. I assumed this was where he usually had breakfast. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until my stomach started grumbling. Westin laughed at me and shook his head.

"Oh shut up," I muttered, embarrassed. He smiled and brought me a dish of oatmeal pancakes and a cup of orange juice. I thanked him before digging in as he sat beside me on the other stool.

"So, what did you have to show me?" He asked, his brown eyes sparkling with unsaid curiosity.

"Well, the day the officers came to let me know Shawn had died, they had left me a bag filled with his belongings. I realized the bag contained his phone, and I had always kept it, never really considered opening it." I motioned to the transparent, plastic Ziploc sitting on the coffee table waiting to be opened.

"I figured it was about time to open it, it might contain valuable information and I have to open it sometime. I just couldn't open it alone, the memories it brought..." I shuddered visibly and I felt Westin place a sympathetic hand on my knee. I hadn't had enough courage to touch his belongings...it would make his death feel real, and I didn't want to lose hope that he might be alive somewhere, that the person I saw was not my brother. I clung on to hope. Hope was the only thing I had left after his death.

"Hey it's ok, I'm here for you. It's what friends do. I'll help u open it, ok." He replied his face was so sincere; he gave me a warm smile and left his stool to get the bag from the coffee table. I was so grateful to have him with me; I never really had any friends after Shawn's death. Having one for a change felt nicer than I would have liked to admit. I felt the stool beside me move as Westin sat back down. I took a sip of my juice, before looking up at him.