Shadowheart

Chapter 31

Dawn approaches. The rising sun shines through the ravaged town of Saint León, New Mexico. A whole week has passed since the incident. The town started renovating. Every news network is all over the colossal fight between Dahlia and Alex. The hashtag #PrayForSaintLeon is spreading like wildfire on social media. People are talking of it everywhere... Mostly questioning whether Dahlia means well or if she's as much of a threat as Alex was. Either way... It's a mess in Saint León.

Daniel wakes up and leaves bed. He brushes his teeth, does his hair and goes down to have breakfast. His father told him to go check the mail and when he did, he came across only one letter for him. He gave his dad the rest of the mail while he went up to his room to read his. The first thing he finds inside the envelope was a petal... A petal of the dahlia flower he gave her. He immediately opened the letter as two more sheets of paper fell off. Daniel picked up the sheets and put them aside, then he read the letter.

Daniel.

I know it's hard... But it's a lot harder for me. I went through hell and I still go through it... With people abusing me or tough times at school before... And now it got worse. I can tell the government is after me and everyone by now may know my name or know what I look like. It's a total mess. Life is a huge mess... But I always thought that life couldn't be that bad. I always hoped and believed that someday my life will turn for the better. You proved me right... I applied for the college that gave out what I loved to do... I felt comfort when it was rough out there... You made me feel things I haven't felt before... You made me happy. You were part of what I became today. My smiles are hardly fake anymore because of you, and I feel much more content because of you. You knew that I was capable of doing something great... And I did. I really hope things go well for you in Pennsylvania. A guy like you deserves nothing but the best in the world. I hope someday we'll meet again... I miss the warmth of your arms... Your heartbeat... Those soft lips of yours... But most importantly... I just miss you... Standing in front of me...

I finished the drawing you saw when we first met... And I made a piece for you so you wouldn't forget me...

I love you... And I miss you...

Your shadowheart,
Dahlia

Daniel teared up upon reading those last few words. Wow... He didn't realize how much effect he had on her. He opened one of the sheets, which had the completed inked and colored drawing of the river, with a cherry blossom tree growing on a hill next to the river. Dahlia was laying underneath the tree. He opened the other sheet of paper. When he looked... He immediately smiled and cried... It was a beautiful self-portrait of Dahlia, inked and colored as well. He smiled and kissed the drawing... Admiring the beauty of the artwork of his lost love. He looked down at her signature, laughing at the little note in the corner.

For you... My bookworm.