Silent Notes

Chapter Fifteen: The Letter Returns

Sunlight streamed through Nastasia's window, casting a soft glow on the scattered papers and notebooks cluttering her desk. It was one of those rare afternoons when she felt motivated to declutter—not just her space, but her mind. As she sorted through old notes and assignments, something familiar slipped out from between the pages—a small, crinkled envelope, worn at the edges. It fluttered softly to the ground. Nastasia froze, heart thudding in her chest.

The letter.

The one she had written to Asher so long ago. A confession that had never seen the light of day. She hadn't meant to find it again. In fact, she had all but forgotten about it, letting it get lost in the shuffle of university life, buried beneath group projects and lecture notes. Her fingers hesitated before picking it up. For a moment, the weight of that past version of herself flooded back—vulnerable, unsure, waiting for something that might never happen.

But things weren't the same anymore. She wasn't the same. That didn't mean she had outgrown her feelings; it meant she was learning to protect herself, to not hold on so tightly to something uncertain. She was still that girl who believed in love, but now, she knew that holding on too long might hurt her more in the end.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, with the letter in her hands, she smiled faintly, a mix of sadness and relief swelling in her chest, the weight of it feeling lighter than before. She wasn't sure if she needed to read it again. The feelings she once had for Asher were still there, lingering in the corners of her heart, but they were softer now, not as overwhelming. Letting go wasn't about forgetting—it was about saving herself from chasing something that might never be.

A part of her wanted to finish the letter, to pour out the rest of what she had never written. But another part of her—a new part, wiser and more certain—felt like there was no need. The letter had done its job. It had captured who she was then, but it didn't define who she was now.

The girl who dreamt of fairytales understood that chasing after someone who might never feel the same could leave her empty. Protecting herself wasn't about giving up on love; it was about learning that the best way to love someone was to let go.

She sighed softly, leaning back against her bed. Maybe she didn't need to do anything at all. The letter could remain unfinished, tucked away as a memory of what she had felt, and a quiet testament to how she had chosen herself in the end.

As she placed the letter back among her papers, she realized it wasn't about erasing her feelings for Asher—it was about accepting that sometimes, letting go was the bravest thing she could do. And maybe, just maybe, if their paths ever crossed again, it wouldn't be the unsent letter that held them together. It would be something stronger—something real.

Nastasia smiled to herself, the last rays of afternoon sunlight fading through the window. The letter might never be sent, but she had already written the most important chapter—her own growth.