To Girls You've Ever Loved | ✔️

Chapter 23

Dahlia Meadows

I took the last glance as I looked at the school I have always been pressured to enter. Here, I was before entering it happily. Now, I'm here exiting this school with a heavy load of pain.

The car my mother was in had been waiting for me. I got in, and she immediately had her attention on me. This was the first time that she had shown affection as my mother. All along, she was always there for me on important occasions, but here she was accompanying me as I trembled from fright. She held my hands tightly, and asked. "Can I hug you?" That broke me into revealing a painful smile, as my eyes got teary.
I immediately sheltered myself. It felt like I had experienced this type of love from my mother. It felt so unreal that my long imagined aunt was my mother, I don't know how long we can bond together.

We headed to the airport, all of my things were packed. I had texted my parents to come follow us in Canada soon since I'll need to talk to them too.
I steadily held my phone, and opened the unread messages Dallas sent me yesterday.

Dallas: I'm gonna be waiting for you. I wanna follow you Dahlia, but I can't. Because, you'd be mad. I wouldn't want you mad especially you're gone.

My phone buzzed as he sent his recent message to me, what was written held my heart and stabbed it.

Dallas: I'll be praying that you'd come back to me again, Lia. My greatest blessing, and the prayer that will never be answered for me. I know this must be a punishment from heaven and above, I hope you'll still love me.

I smiled for the last time, then removed him from my contacts. I hugged myself, reminding myself with his touch.
Within those fifteen seconds, I felt that it was truly enchanting to meet him.
– It was the best last hug from him.

———————————————————
Dallas

Three months later

"Congratulations, Dallas!" I looked at January, and Alex at a distance holding out a bouquet for me. "Last time, you just graduated junior & senior high school with nothing! Now, you are the valedictorian of our batch!" January exclaimed happily.
"Woah, look at that. Is that Dallas Everett?!" as Alex bowed and knelt as he handed the bouquet to me. "Wow, thank you." as I bowed back down again.
"Let's take a picture!"
We asked a fellow graduate mate of ours to take a picture. I heard two clicks as they took snapped a picture of January, Alex and I.
I finally finished college. I didn't know what else I should be doing now, I have to be studying for the licensure exams. I wanted to travel from different countries, set myself free from stress and possibly find Dahlia.

I went home, and then I decided to do something stupid. I decided to find the old record I asked from Alex – about Dahlia during fourth-year. I looked at the image attached, it was like her image had been framed up in my mind all along. I still remember her black, silky hair and those brown eyes that beamed when sunlight rays hit her cornea to the edges. I smiled, and looked for the information on where Dahlia's location on her phone was last traced. It was written "Michigan" but I knew that she must have left her phone here. There I was hopeless, there were no more details on where she was now. I only had her g-mail as I asked the office during the times I tried finding a way to connect with her. I pleaded for it, but I eventually had to sneak in and find her student information. I have sent her over ten g-mails now, has she received it? I hope she does.
I was motivated to write her another letter, so I opened my laptop then started typing.

To: Dahlia Meadows
  How are you in Canada? Are you doing well? I wonder how your mother is now, I hope she recovered from her disease now. I just graduated college, you know? I was the valedictorian, you probably wouldn't expect that too. I studied hard till my nose bled, just so I could catch up with you. I know you are probably working so hard to become that designer. You know your favorite fizzy drink? I bought a whole pack of them. I restored them in my fridge, at least almost all of what's inside my refrigerator would be those.

I hope I can be the first model to wear your self-made designs. Kidding. Ah.. I fucking miss you now. I felt so lonely, talking to the moon as I tried getting to you. Hoping you could hear the prayers I've been sending in for you, your safety and your health. I have never been this sacred, but all I could do was pray for you.

I'll be waiting, Dahlia. I promise you, a promise is a promise.

From: Dallas Everett

To: Dahlia Meadows
       I'm finally a legalized engineer. I hope you were here to see how happy January and Alex were. I'm still waiting for you, I know you're getting tired. Even though this mail is not sent to you. I'm never gonna give up writing you these letters.

I can't tell myself to stay away, it's so hard for me to. All I could do was sit here, type and watch as my letters became stacked with another. I just can't do anything anymore. I'm a man, that's why I'm fighting for you, for us. I thought when I fell in love with you, you'd be the person who'd fall in love more but with those gleaming smiles you flash me with, I was that person. Growing up now, I realized how long I have been chasing you, it was like nothing was painful but love. I'll be happy to tell you when I have finally let go of you. Remember, our love was a tragic beautiful thing, so are you. I miss you now and ever, Dahlia. Please come home to me.
                                                                                        From: Dallas Everett

One letter eventually became two, to three, to numbers I can't count anymore.
I was now 28 years old, no longer longing for her love.

To: Dahlia Meadows
    Hi, Dahlia! I'm finally 28. Here I am, you must be calling me an oldie. This is my fifteenth letter now, I guess. I heard from January you are coming back here to Michigan, we saw your interviews. I can't wait to see you again.

I'm happy to say I've finally moved on after four years. That's just a long time, right? I can't wait to show you places I've pictured in your polaroid. It was a good thing Katherine found it as she was cleaning up your place. I mean, my place.
Your old apartment, I moved here. Isn't it great? It's so cold here when I open the windows. I always feel your presence here, I try not to miss you but I know you must be living the happiest. I've visited the Philippines. I visited the Intramuros and that famous spot in Vigan – Calle Crisologo. That country was damn nice, everyone was friendly to me. I almost thought girls there looked exactly like you. I'm certified single, by the way. Hahaha, isn't that ironic of me? Ever since you left, I have always loved the things you also loved too. The time when we meet again, what if just that time you'd say a "I love you" to me rather than goodbye? I mean, it won't even happen.

Thank you for letting me go now, Dahlia. When I see you again, I wish we could talk as we briefly enjoy each other's presence. Goodbye. I eventually finally let you go, now I'll forget you but remember your warmth. Though, I know I'm still in denial. But I have to move forward.
                                                                                       From: Dallas Everett

January and Alex came behind my back and looked at each other, giving me the comfort I needed - an embrace.
I finally had the courage to finally let Dahlia go, to the one who got away.