Letters From a Lover | ✓

no. 9

Marie's heart fluttered and her mind clogged with thoughts as she waited at the coffee shop. Her fingers repetitively drummed against the wooden table anxiously as she wafted the scent of coffee beans and the chatter of surrounding customers entered her ears. With each passing minute, the amount of sweat on her skin grew exponentially. Oh, why did she agree to coming?

She could have declined the offer, but by instinct, she didn't. Marie reminded herself that that meant she wanted to see Preston again, maybe even a bit eager to. Or maybe she was just just too nice for own being. Probably the former.

Jason wouldn't have been happy with their little rendezvous. She probably would've needed to lock him in his room or something. Good thing they broke up.

A young man, with his chestnut brown hair swept up in a quiff entered the building and immediately made eye contact with Marie. The only thing that ran through her mind was, damn, three years can really change someone.

"Marie?"

The girl— no, young woman, now— looked almost completely different. The only feature of hers that was familiar to him was her reassuring eyes, which met his and glistened with mixed emotions.

Preston eyed the seat across from her and cautiously sat down. "Listen, Marie," his voice choked up a bit, "I'm so sorry. For leaving you. That was my biggest mistake and my greatest regret."

Marie pressed her lips, that previously were parted slightly, together, forming a thin line. Then she let an exasperated sigh.

"Preston, if this is some grand master plan for us to get back together, I'm telling you right now, it won't work and it won't happen."

"Why not? You said you loved me in one of your letters."

"No." Marie said instantaneously. "No, I did not. I said that I could never hate you. That's entirely different from loving someone."

Preston just sat in silence, soaking in what Marie had just said. He walked in with high hopes, that Marie loved him once again and that she would give them another chance, another shot at long distance— which Preston would take this time— and they'd both be happy. With each other.

"But," he stammers, "I thought we could get back together and have our happily ever after."

Marie rose from her seat. "Did you not read anything I wrote? Happily ever afters don't even exist and there's a reason why we never worked out in the first place."

Preston was left unresponsive. "I— I, I'm sorry."

Marie got up and gathered her belongings in a hurry. "I knew this was a bad idea," she said, before pivoting on her heel and walking to the door.

He sat there, drowning in frustration. The thought of chasing after her did cross his mind once or twice, but it would be too late— she would have had too large of a head start.

This is what she was talking about, he thought. How I wouldn't fight for our relationship, for what we had. I always let her go too easily.

「 T H E E N D 」

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and that's a wrap! I understand that the ending is kinda a cliffhanger, but some stories are better left that way, letting the reader's imagination complete it.

thank you all for reading!! some important information will be in the following chapter, so be sure to read it.