If I Found Finn (#Wattys2015)

seventeen/ lamposts

The tea tasted almost bitter as I took a swig from the mug by my bedside. I pushed the bedsheets away from me, willing myself to get up.

"Morning, sunshine."

"How original," I said, mumbling, "how'd you even get in here?"

"Your aunt let me in," Bas replied, leaning against the doorframe.

"Now are you ready to go, or not? Time is of the essence," he said, crossing his arms

I threw a pillow at him.

"See you at your car in five, I'll drive," he said, starting to walk away.

"What even- I bet you're a terrible driver," I yelled back, throwing on the nearest sweater and following him out the door.

---

Bas was, indeed, a terrible driver.

"How the hell did you even get your license?" I asked, gripping the car seat tighter than usual.

"I have no idea," he replied, eyes scanning the road, "Witchcraft, if I had guess."

---

Bas parked a little way from the park, which was slightly damp from the night's rain.

The green benches glistened.

We found the one near the broken light post.

A surprisingly not wet envelope was taped to the underside of it. Bas laid out his black raincoat against the bench so we could sit down.

Dear Fiona,

This whole letter business must be getting pretty old by now, huh? Well I can't really say that they're not going to be anymore letters after this, but this one's going to be a bit different.

I need you to go to Angela's house.

Right now, she's the only one who can really explain.

"I'll wait for you in the car," Bas said, getting up before I could say anything.

You might be wondering why I chose this silly park bench out of all places to hide a couple of quickly written sentences.

Well one day we were walking Frodo around this park, and when we got to this light post he suddenly he ran off and flung himself into a pile of snow. You started to laugh really hard and you did this thing where your eyes lit up and your cheeks got really red and it made me wish that I could witness it every single day. And then I imagined us, older, walking Frodo, and for a second it made me forget that I didn't have a future. Then the light bulb went out which pulled me back into reality, but the tiny (adorable) squeal you made when you clung onto me afterwards was worth it.

Anyway, all of my life I have been taught that I didn't have a lot of time on this earth. But you made me forget for that one second, and I can't thank you enough.

Sorry for being emotional. And sorry for apologizing a lot in all of these letters. Oh darn.

Yours,

Finn