Pile of Brusque Endings

That Pink Letter

"Mr. Bolster, you have a letter", she said. I didn't look up from my plate. That was the result of my rigorous upbringing concerning table manners and my lifelong acquired stash of ego. I don't really like me. I wouldn't want to be friends with me. But it's been long since I've come to terms with it. Today is a great morning. Pretty sunny, warm and hot. I have sweat streaking down my face as I eat my breakfast eggs. My breakfast as delicious as usual and my suit impeccable and immaculate.

The maid brought in the letter in a platter for me. It was sealed. The envelope was the color of pale pink. I wondered who could be sending me letters in pretty pink envelope. It couldn't be my ex-wife. She left me for our gardener almost a decade ago. We used to send letters to each other back in the day. She's never sent me anything in pink envelopes though. Romantic trifles are never the thing for gold diggers.

The letter couldn't be from my mother. She was dead. Not that I would ever expect something like this from her. She was a strange lady. Devoid of emotions or compassion. Or maybe she was just very good at hiding them. I don't remember her showing any kind of affection. Ever.  Always the stoic, respectable and composed Lady of the Manor. The letter couldn't be from my daughter, she broke all ties with me after that incident years ago. I quickly shake the memory off of my mind.

Then who could it be? i wiped my mouth on the clear napkin and picked the letter up. The paper of the envelope was slightly coarse and it was increasingly pulling on my curiosity. I got up from the dining table and headed towards my study with the letter in hand. My lifelong friend and advisor Albert tells me I don't savor the simple pleasures of life and instead go after materialistic gains. Well, I think old age and boredom has changed my mind finally.   I am going to savor this little letter.

I can already feel the excitement grow in me as I control my urge to carelessly tear up the seal and envelope, read the letter and just be done with it. This time it would be different. I'm going to enjoy this letter like it should be enjoyed. Letters are curious little things.  They bring out lots and different kinds of feelings in people. But the most important part of a letter which most people don't realize is, they are a brief glimpse in the past. A part of the past of the writer left for the reader to travel time. All these years I've never cared much about letters. As soon as i used to receive one, I used to open it up without much regard to the writer's feelings and thoughts. I used to consider them as snippets of news. Nothing more.

This letter would be my first step towards being a better person, being more passionate. I sit at my desk and pull the chair closer to the observe the envelope clearly. The pink had a little spot of white on it like a drop of water has worm the blended color away to show a patch of white skin of the envelope ringed by a darker pink in the midst of calm. I wondered how the drop of water came to find it's place on the spot to finally die and leave it's imprints for me. It could have been a sneaky drop of rain or the careless spill of the writer or delivery man. Or maybe it was a drop of tearful emotion. Perhaps just spit.

Thinking about all these possibilities excited me and I got a little giddy thinking, all the answers I am looking for is inside this little packet which fits right inside my palm. I reached for the desk drawer and brought out the new but old paper knife to break open the seal. The seal looked simple enough, red wax with no particular stamp on it. Looking carefully at the seal I could see the dead fly body trapped inside the wax. Seems like good enough grave for a fly, after a quick painless death. Hmm. opening the seal carefully, I opened up the envelope slowly. Excitement building in me little by little now wants to bubble up and spill over.

Taking out the smooth white paper from inside the envelope, it was rather disappointing. Disappointed at how ordinary the paper looks. I was expecting something more mysterious. Nevertheless I unfold the paper and read the letter. Didn't take much time since only thing written inside was one word. 'BRONDELK'. In bold capital letters, the word looked both intimidating and scary to me. A sudden chill ran down my spine as cold sweat broke on my forehead. Just one word. One strong word. it brought back lots of memories in a flood. Pleasant and otherwise.