Your Ten Letters [Completed]

Letter 4

Letter four: April
—
Lily's voice trembled with surprise and confusion as she blurted out, "What are you doing here?"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Marcus's face before he replied, "I thought I'd give it a try, you know? Thought it might be fun with two people..."

Lily thought she detected a faint smile, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Did he genuinely want to be friends?

"Oh," Lily murmured softly, a smile spreading across her face. "I'm glad, then."

Amanda, sensing the tension in the air, intervened. "Shall we go meet the puppies and kittens?" she suggested, seeking to ease the atmosphere.

Lily and Marcus were assigned to different areas of the shelter.

Lily found herself torn between disappointment and relief. She had yearned to spend time with Marcus, but his mere presence made her nervous, although she couldn't pinpoint why.

Despite being separated, Lily couldn't help but notice the occasional glances that passed between them. She wondered if it was merely her imagination playing tricks on her, or if there was something more. Hope fluttered in her heart, urging her to believe in the possibility.

As time passed, they became immersed in their respective tasks.

Lily soon discovered that while the kittens were undeniably adorable, they possessed an unruly nature.

They scratched and nibbled at her, prompting her to exclaim, "No, bad kittens!" A mischievous kitten even climbed up her leg, causing her to giggle amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, Marcus had anticipated a smooth experience with the dogs, only to be faced with the daunting task of handling their waste. His face contorted in disgust as he grappled with the unpleasant task.

Exhausted by the end of the day, Lily and Marcus made their way home.

However, as fate would have it, they had forgotten that they lived on the same street.

Awkwardness tinged the air as they walked side by side, contemplating their unusual circumstances. Marcus thought of crossing to the other side of the street, but the idea seemed even more awkward.

Silence enveloped them, and the desire to break it hung palpably in the air.

Finally, Marcus broke the silence. "So... hard day, huh?"

Lily chuckled. "Is that your attempt at conversation?"

Marcus smirked, his charm melting Lily's heart. "Well, did I get busted that easily?"

"Uhh, I mean, I guess?" Lily stumbled over her words, her emotions bubbling to the surface.

Marcus burst into laughter, and Lily's laughter soon joined his. With their spirits lifted, they continued their walk, engaging in lighthearted banter until they reached their respective homes.

"I suppose it's goodbye for now," Lily said, a hint of longing in her voice.

"I guess so," Marcus replied, a trace of reluctance tugging at his words.

Both of them lingered, a silent plea hanging in the air, but neither found the courage to voice it.
Breaking the silence, Marcus spoke up. "Talk to you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tom—" Lily paused abruptly, the unfinished word catching in her throat. Did he just say "talk to you tomorrow"? The surprise took her by storm, yet it was entirely in line with the enigmatic nature of Marcus.

Time slipped by, and soon it was the following day. Lily rose from her slumber, washed her face, went through her morning stretches, and got dressed with a sense of purpose.