Dear Camila,
After Sofia died, I didn't see much of you for a while. You would lock yourself up in your room andrequested that no visitors were allowed. Even me. Although I was a little upset about that, I still respected your decision.
We didn't stay totally out of touch though. You texted me here and there and we would have a full blown conversation, but I was unable to see your face for three months. I think I almost forgot the way yours eyes looked into mine and the way you laughed and the way your hair fell perfectly in place. I had to keep a picture of you in my wallet and set your picture as the wallpaper on my phone to remind me of those things.
While you were cooped up in your room, leaving me with too much free time, I started saving up money for my first house or apartment. I got a job at some car shop but that was only part time so I got another part time job at a small grocery store. Having two part time jobs helped me a lot. I made a quarter of what I needed for a house and since my parents wanted me out on my own finally, they paid off the rest and made me promise to pay them back every single penny.
I surprised you one day at your house. I had to force your parents to let me see you, but when I told them what I was doing, they agreed to let me in.
I went up to your room and found you listening to your music with the volume all the way up. You werestaring up at the ceiling where an old poster of One direction sat. You looked over at me and smiled. Iexpected you to be mad or upset, but you weren't. You told me you were glad to see me, and wrapped me in a tight hug. I held you close, afraid that if I let you go you might disappear.
I forced you to get dressed and into my car where I drove us to my new home which was now fully decorated with furniture. Not the best furniture, but furniture nonetheless. It was a small two bedroom home with one bathroom and a downstairs.
I walked you inside and to the kitchen where I uncovered your eyes and showed you the cake that read'Welcome home'. At first you were confused but then you realized what I was saying.
Your eyes filled with tears of happiness then wrapped me in an embrace.
"This is ours?" You whispered in my ear softly as we were still in the embrace.
"All ours" I confirmed.
You moved in with me that week. You packed everything you needed and moved it into our house. When we had finished packing things from your room you stopped by Sofia's room and grabbed a small stuffed tiger from her purple bed.
"I need this" You said "His name is Leonard"
I sat there and listened to every word you spoke.
"She loved Leonard. This is her favorite stuffed animal."
So you took Leonard with us and sat him on your beside table where you would see it every day. I never knew that a stuffed animal could mean so much to someone. But it meant a lot to you.
Sincerely,
Lauren Jauregui
