Eighteen Letters To Juan Karlos •COMPLETED•

The Sixth Letter

It was two days later when JK got another chance to read the letter. He was practically itching to open the next one, seeing as it looked like it had something in it. But he simply did not have the time, or when he did he was either too tired or too hungry to open it.

So when they had the night off, and they didn't have anything to do, Juan Karlos jumped on the chance. He pulled out he letters from under his pillow on the hired tour bus, counting up until the sixth letter and opened it.

When he did, a woven bracelet fell out onto his lap. It was blue and green, handmade, and had zigzags running up along it. Was this for him? It must've been, right? Otherwise Addie wouldn't have put it in the letter.

He pulled the letter out, with the bracelet in his left hand, and began to read.

Dear Juan Karlos,

Hey guess what? I was right. Maddie did find her perfect foster family.

She left today. Little Maddie, with her straight black hair and brown eyes that sparkled every time she laughed, showing her tiny crooked teeth that she admitted to me one time she got teased about at school. Maddie, who everyone loves. And I suppose it's hard not to love that little girl. She's only nine, yet she acts like a hundred years old and you could say she makes anyone and everyone happy. Including me, and that's saying something. I'm not a very happy person.

Juan Karlos felt it again, that pang. A pang of sadness and loss, like something was missing from his life and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Everyone in the house turned out to watch her go. She cried at least three times, hugging everyone at least twice. And then, when she reached me, she decided she didn't want to go. She just clung to me, crying.

It was so hard, to pull her off me gently and give her to her foster parents. And I know it's really, really horrible and selfish to say this, but I don't want her to go. I don't want her to leave me. Maddie has been my only friend in this place.