ACQUAINTANCE (Book #3 - EMAILS TO DAN)

Epilouge - 19 October 2023

In the morning, Phil giggled into my neck. "This isn't going to go away anytime soon, is it?" He asked, pointing to my skin.

"No, it's not. And it's not my fault."

"Hey, you wanted it-"

"Phil!" I stopped him to laugh.

He giggled more, leaning up to me to place a kiss on my lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Phil stood up from the bed, changing into clothes before putting his ring on-

"What are you doing?" Phil spoke out of silence, having Dan get startled and drop his journal onto his lap.

"Um, nothing," he said, moving his journal away from him on the desk, acting like he wasn't doing anything.

"What may this 'nothing' be?"

"Uh-" Dan was flustered as Phil approached him, straddling him on his chair.

"I'm not going to take 'nothing' as an answer anymore." He smiled. "Now, what is it?"

Dan sighed, fidgeting with his hands before sliding his journal back towards him and into his palms. "This," he started, "was and is an important part of my life when I wasn't with you." Phil set out his hands, having Dan lay the journal on them before skimming through dates, events, him.

"Why did you write about us? Dates from September, November- even today?" He stood up from Dan's lap, looking through his journal and the words written on them. "And your handwriting from 2016, 17, 18, and 19 are poorly written with your handwriting," he chuckled, making Dan laugh.

"I know. But if you must know, it's for a book."

"Book? You're writing a book?" Phil stopped reading to look at him.

"Starring you," he said. "And me."

"Why?"

"Because we wrote half of our lives in one book. I just wanted to write about the other half when I came back." Dan took the journal out of Phil's hands, looking down at his work. "I wanted to write about our whole story."

Phil smiled, having a tear roll down his cheek. "You did all this?"

"It's always been you." Dan smiled.

Phil threw his arms around Dan, hugging him and giving him a tight squeeze. "You're always keeping something from me."

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Phil frowned. "I'm in it." He smirked.

"Fair enough," he set the book down. "Anyways, I was going to end the book when I told you or you found out about it. So I guess it ends today."

"Are you sure? I can pretend I never saw it."

"It's fine, Phil. Besides, it's better to end it today by the events that took place last night." He winked, making Phil blush and giggle.

"I'm hoping you mean the proposal."

"Of course." Dan placed a kiss on his forehead, taking his hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He gave him a peck on the lips before pulling away from his hand and walked out, continuing to do what he was doing.

Dan smiled at everything: his life, his now-shared flat with Phil.

But mostly Phil in general.

Though he thought that whatever will happen with Phil and him, he didn't deserve. But no matter how many times Phil has told him that 'the past is the past', he couldn't help but still feel sorry for what he did. Phil would just simply say 'we'll make new memories', though that still didn't change how Dan felt.

However, he knew for a fact that whatever life will bring him and Phil, he would definitely be grateful.

• • •

Then he walked out, leaving me to finish this book.

And that's was the last sentence Dan wrote once he finished his novel.

He sighed, knowing after years and years of writing events that had happened between him and Phil every few days was now over. He knew it'd end one day, but never knew when, of course.

Dan smiled down at his journal before moving it aside and turning to his computer. He felt nervous, but excited.

Opening Mail, he began to compose an email.

Dear Random House,

He paused, not sure how to start off. But once he was relaxed enough, he continued to type.

Since 2016, I have kept a journal. It isn't a normal type of journal -- more like a memoir.

It is about the importance of a person in my life that I utterly became sorry for ignoring throughout a few years. Though a year ago from today, the person welcomed me back into his life, having the journal continue longer until today when he found out about it.

The important person's name is Phil, if I may regard him.

It was great ending it today, I suppose, having events take place that make me look forward to more in the future as we are now engaged.

My fiancé has allowed me to publish, though I was planning on it. He and I look forward to your company's response to a meeting about the (hopefully) new book, Acquaintance.

Sincerely,
Dan Howell