One Last Turn to See You

III. Ethan Williams

*Ethan Williams*

After graduation, the boy—although it hurts him to leave her, although he still wanted to be with her much longer, left the place since that day. He made a promise with his parents that after graduating high school in that place, he would do whatever they want him to do—even though running his family’s business was far from what he really wanted in life. He still remembered the day when he criticized his family in going back, when his parents didn’t want him to go in that place anymore, he told them that he would do whatever they wish in exchange of going back to the place from where he left the girl, and let him graduate in there so he could be with her even just for a matter of time. So now, he looked back, watching her from the distance as their car drove farther from her, relishing the last time he’d hugged her.

For many years, he worked on his father’s company, not looking back to the girl anymore. Although he used his original name now, he stayed to be a private person, not entrusting his identity to someone he doesn’t know to ensure that the girl would not find him anymore. Same as changing his life, from that day since graduation, he swore that he would forget the girl and never look back at her anymore even if it pains him much. He no longer believed that hope is still possible between the two of them. For years of trying to neglect her, for so many times of trying to forget his memories about her, she still kept on coming back, never leaving his mind especially his heart. He finally gave up when he couldn’t take not seeing the girl even just a glimpse of her anymore and one day, sent a person to see where she is now. When the person he sent already got back, he was surprised to know that the girl was here in this city too. Upon knowing this, he planned to sneak out of their company one day, just to take a sight at her but to his disappointment; she wasn’t there at that time. Still knowing that he is still not ready to face her yet, he went back to his office and decided to write a letter to her instead.

By tomorrow, he planned to send the letter already, and wanted to be the one to do it. He went out of their company and drove his car all the way to the post office. When he arrived, still holding the letter in his hand, he was surprised to find the post office busy today where lots of people are towering around. Despite of this, he still continued. As he walked towards the office, he bumped unto another person which made him drop his letter. He picked it up, not looking at the one who collided with him and walked away immediately. When he was about to give it to the postman, he hesitated for a bit and realized that what he wanted, is to give the girl a peaceful life and he doesn’t want that this letter, the letter he’s holding in his hand right now, would ruin everything. He sighed and went back to his car with his letter.

In his office, he went. He sat down on his chair and stared at the letter. He was about to throw it away when he noticed the handwriting on its back. It was different from the one he wrote before. He suddenly remembered the person who made him drop his letter earlier and realized that he had gotten back the wrong letter. He immediately opened it and was surprised to find the words inside it.

Dear best friend,

            I’m sorry I haven’t noticed that it was you all along. I already had the doubt about you but I just thought that it was silly. On the day you bid me goodbye—the day you made a promise to me, well, I was truly speechless at that time that I didn’t respond to your words. I just can’t believe you’re leaving me behind with no one to turn to and I was upset about that thought. The only thing my mind had come up with was also a promise—a promise to myself that I will still keep on loving you and will wait for you no matter what despite of the little possibilities that you’d still return. Even though you lied to me about your real self when you first came in our school, I’m still glad that you kept your promises and you still came back. I’m sorry I avoided you during the last days of our high school because I knew that I’m already breaking those promises; because I started to fall for you and I still thought at that time that you were a different person. I wanted to tell you that I love you both—my childhood friend when I was still young and my best friend when I already grew up and it’s kind of a coincidence to me that for all the people I met, I ended up falling in love with only one person even if I knew or not that it was the same one all along.

During our childhood, I was afraid to tell you how I feel, was afraid to tell you that I like you because I thought you would go away from me if I do so. Now is the time to tell you this: I love you so much since we were kids until now. My heart still kept on beating for you and only you. All these years I tried to find you but I guess my luck always run out. I just hope that it was really you now who was reading this letter of mine.

                     Love,

Your best friend

The boy closed the letter, shock crossed his face. His face brightened up, as if through all the dark corners in his life, a light would pass by and give brightness to his world again. It is the one who wrote this letter he was holding, the one and only light who gave brightness to his dark world. He suddenly stood up and hurriedly went out to go back to the post office where he had bumped with the girl, the girl who is her best friend…

He drove in his car, his heart pounding rapidly. He wanted to see her very badly now, he couldn’t wait. When he arrived, still holding the letter, he hurriedly went to the post office, his heart pounding faster than ever. He suddenly stopped halfway there upon seeing someone…and although there are many people passing by, his eyes were immediately caught by a girl who was also holding a letter from the distance, staring at him. He felt as though she was his own world being brought back to him again. They stared at each other and even though there are many people passing by in front of them, their eyes never averted from each other and it still seemed to find a way for both of them to continue seeing each other’s faces. The boy blinked and took one more step at the same time the girl moved towards him. They walked straight ahead, as if nothing could ever stop themselves from going to one another, like magnets. They suddenly stopped when they were already inches apart, still no words coming out from their mouths, just stares from each other’s eyes, each looked like they were missing each other for a very long time. The girl’s eyes suddenly were filled with tears and without a minute to waste, she hugged him tight in her arms. The boy buried his face in her hair while hugging her back tightly.

“I miss you.” The girl muttered.

“I miss you.” The boy also muttered and while watching her face, he wiped the tears in her eyes. “Don’t cry. I’m here now; I will be the one to stop your tears.”

             They knew they loved each other so much, not just the words written in their letters but they had truly felt their affection for one another. And they continued hugging each other tightly, as if nothing could ever separate the two of them again.