Dearest - truly flung out of space

40 - The letter

I got home early today. After taking care of a rather big birthday party, I was exhausted. Once I got home, I sank into the sofa and took a quick nap. As I wake up, the door swings open, and Rindy storms in. Tears run down her rosy cheeks.

"Sunshine, what happened? Are you hurt? Are you okay?" I ask, jumping up from the sofa and rushing to the little girl. I immediately check her for any visible injuries. Sometimes the boys from her class pick on her. I wouldn't be surprised if they got physical. But I don't find anything. Her pain is not physical. She's scared of something. She looks at me with her big green eyes. I grew to love looking into her eyes but now they are so terribly sad.

"You're okay, sunshine. I'm here," I whisper and carry her into the bedroom. I hand her an old shirt of Carol so she can cuddle with it. I get Bingo as well and lay down next to her, holding her in my arms. She seems to calm down. Rindy's breath slowly regulates and soon after, the little girl is asleep in my arms.
I watch her every movement and carefully send Carol a message.

Y/N

Carol,I know you are at work, but we have an emergency with Rindy. Please come home if you can. I love you.

Carol arrives exactly 15 minutes later. I don't know how she got home from work that fast but since her boss knows that she has a daughter at a younger age, she is allowed to head home whenever something happens. I appreciate her boss for that.

"Where is she?" Carol says as she rushes through the door. Her eyes immediately scan the apartment for Rindy and when she can't find her, she wants to cry out to her.
"She's asleep. She was so exhausted and she needed to rest. I put her to bed and cuddled with her," I explain and gently take her hand.
"Thank you," she whispers and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

Carol heads to the bedroom and closes the door behind her. I understand that she needs some time with her daughter alone but it still hurts. But Rindy's comfort is more important. The two return after a few minutes, Rindy clinging to her mother's hand. I smile at the little girl and she wipes her tears.

Rindy walks to her backpack and pulls out an envelope. Her green eyes look at me.
"I'm scared you'll get in trouble," she whispers and takes my hand.
I shake my head and squeeze her hand.
"Never, sunshine. I promise I'm okay."

Rindy hands Carol the letter. It's already been opened once, signalizing that the little girl already took her chance to read the paper. Carol slowly unfolds the paper. Rindy cuddles closer to me, fresh tears running down her cheeks.

As Carol reads, her face gets paler and paler. My heart begins to race. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong.
Carol puts the letter down and places a kiss on Rindys' head.
Then, I get a chance to read the letter. My heart stops when my eyes roam over the paper.

Dearest,
I am sorry about how this letter will find you. You know I am not someone who will threaten anyone but I don't want to imagine the way Rindy will react. But unfortunately, this is the only way I can reach you. I have spent a lot of time thinking. And I can't get you out of my head since the day I saw you in that supermarket. For all these years I thought I had lost you. And now you're back. It feels like I have my old life back. I have missed you and Rindy so much. My family. My everything. There are things I haven't told you. When I attended the workshop, I met someone new. I was lonely and I just needed the company.

I can't believe what I am reading. Especially the last sentence sounds like Therese is victim-blaming Carol here. Why is it Carols' fault that she was alone? She chose to be in the workshop. She knew that travelling to a different state would result in being alone, especially since Carol is responsible for Rindy.