31 letters to Olivia

Do you remember?

Do you remember?

 “Olivia darling!” The shrill voice of her mother called up the spiraled stairs. The girl groaned from her place in bed not wanting to part with her blankets. “OLIVIA!” She sat up quickly her devilish hair flying all around her face. “Coming mother!” Olivia called back hopping out of her bed stripping her nightwear and  putting on day clothes. She ran around her room  brushing her hair and trying to make it look as if she hadn’t been in bed all day.

Olivia quickly made her way down the stairs to where her mother was waiting for her – hand on her hip in an annoyed fashion. “You need to learn to be more punctual dear.” She raised an eyebrow at her daughter who simply nodded. “You have piano practice.” Her mother informed her. “Now. Stop wasting time child.” Olivia quickly made her way into the music room her mother had installed into their already too big for just two people house. “Yes mother.” She spoke quietly not wanting to get in any further trouble with the old bat.

“Sit up dear.”Her mother commanded as soon as the girl sat down. “Start from the beginning now.” She spoke as she took a seat watching her daughter closely. Olivia took a deep breath before beginning to play a tune. “Straighten your fingers out child.”Her mother directed harshly. “Stay on tempo now.” Olivia listened to her mother’s direction despite wanting to tell her to butt out. “Focus Olivia.” Mrs. Woodine directed her daughter once again. “No. No. No. Olivia. You sound horrible. Start again.” The brunette girl nodded before repeating the beginning of the song.

Was this what her life had really become? Ever since allowing her mother back into her life she had been more miserable than ever. It wasn’t that she didn’t love the woman because she did. Carrie Woodine just didn’t understand that her dreams and Olivia’s dreams were completely different. The girl held in a sigh as she thought of how different her life had been exactly a year ago. She wanted to cry as she thought of him. The boy with the blue eyes that felt like they wrapped themselves around her and pulled her into his soul every time she looked into them. She missed him with all her heart but it was either her mother or him. Sometimes Olivia likes to think she made the right choice but other days when life just drags on she misses him more than ever.  

“Begin again Olivia. You keep screwing up.” Her mother snapped her out of her thoughts. “Yes mother.” She nodded before beginning the song once again. “Miss Woodine. A package has arrived for you.” Piano practice had been interrupted by their butler and for that Olivia was grateful. “Mother?”She questioned looking to the woman who let out an aggravated huff. “We’ll continue practice after dinner tonight young lady.” Olivia stood up quickly with a smile rushing out to get the package that was sent for her.

It wasn’t a big box but it wasn’t exactly small either. About shoe box sized. Olivia picked it up quickly bringing it up to her room and locking her door. She frowned as she saw the return address. His address.  Why would he be sending her a package? It didn’t matter much to her as her excitement grew. Olivia quickly ripped open the package to see it was in fact a shoe box. A shoebox for a pair of shoes that he had bought her. But it couldn’t be those shoes inside the box because she had them with her at this house.  Olivia carefully took off the lid of the box to find it full of envelopes each numbered.  After further investigation she counted thirty one total envelopes. She carefully opened the one labeled with a number one not prepared for what was inside.  It was a letter. A letter addressed to her written in his handwriting.

Do you remember the first day we met Olivia? I do. It was a Sunday morning. A rainy Sunday morning and I was sat in a small breakfast dinner just trying to take a break from the rest of the world. I had spent the last hour and a half of my life stirring the ice in my drink hoping for some sort of distraction and well I certainly got one. I remember the moment you walked into my life clear as if it had happened only yesterday. You ripped open the dinner door causing it to crash into the wall. I turned in my seat like most of the people in the dinner to see what the commotion was.

There you were. Red cheeked with embarrassment as you quietly shut the door behind you and made a move to step into the dinner. You had rain boots on and they were squeaky as all get out. Your cheeks got even redder if that’s even possible. And you embarrassedly took a seat at the table across from mine. I desperately wanted to stop looking at you but I couldn’t. I didn’t know it then and I still don’t know why now but you caught my attention and you’ve held it since Olivia.

I remember my first thought of you. It was my God that girl’s beautiful. And you are. I didn’t even care that your hair was extremely frizzy from the rain outside or the fact that you had a bright yellow stain on your t-shirt. Something about you captivated me and I wanted to get to know you. But I was afraid you would be like all the others. I was terrified to talk to you because I wasn’t just some simple kid from Ireland. I was well known by many and you were just this simple girl who had walked into a dinner that morning.

But I guess I didn’t let that stop me because I soon found myself standing up and taking the one step to your table. My heart was beating quickly and I had no idea what I was going to say to you. I wanted to say a smooth hello or a clever pickup line. Maybe even add in a smirk that would have made millions of others swoon at the site but I didn’t. I gulped out a nervous hi. I sounded like a little kid talking to the scary old man down the street. I think you could tell I was nervous when you first looked at me but you didn’t make it worse for me. You just smiled making your green eyes shine. It was like happiness radiated off of you.

“Hi.” You replied warmly and I felt myself grow week at the knees at how soft your voice was. “My name’s Niall.” I told you taking a seat and then stupidly standing back up. “Um sorry. Can I sit?” I wanted to crawl in a hole. But you giggled and I felt my stomach drop at the noise. “Of course Niall.  I’m Olivia by the way.” Your name stuck in my head for the rest of that day like a broken record it would repeat.

Olivia. Olivia. Olivia.

It suited you. And then we started talking and I learned that you had already known who I was and I for one was grateful that you hadn’t screamed in my face considering the screaming was one of the things I was trying to escape that morning. You told me how you play the piano and I told you about the guitar. I think we bonded over music that morning.  You were funny and beautiful and I couldn’t get enough talking to you. So after almost chickening out about ten times I finally asked for your number. I’m glad you gave it to me Olivia. I miss you. I miss you so god damn much. I think about that day all the time.  You make me so nervous. I don’t know why because it’s not like you’re some scary beast. You’re just Olivia. And I know I already said it but I miss you so much.

-          Niall.