The Letters To Her Heart

Chapter 13: 2021

Four years later: 2021

I graduated from Yale University with my bachelor's degree in business. I moved back to North Carolina after graduation to start up my own business. A business I've always dreamed of since my mother's death, five years ago.

I've created something so magical, the lost and found foundation. It's a therapy type of  business. It's for people like me who have lost themselves due to mental illness or a tragedy that they don't know how to move on from. In each therapy session, a lesson is learned and you feel rejoiced. And the best part of all, it's only five dollars per session. I earn all my funds through mental health research and fundraising. 

My Aunt Dar passed away a year after I graduated from high school. She, like my mother, had kidney cancer. Turns out it's genetic. The doctor's say its probable I will have it also but not until my late 40s. I have to live my life to the fullest no matter what. My mother and Aunt were my rock. Uncle Chuck moved into assistant living due to his poor health. Aunt Dar was his rock, she helped with everything. I live on my own in my house. Uncle Chuck lived there alone for as long as he could and then he gave it to me. It's amazing how much I've gone through with that house and now it's finally mine.

I haven't talked to Cole since that day I visited with muffins. He graduated from high school and his mom said he went off to Cornell University. Rebecca moved to California to pursue her acting career which actually took off pretty well last year, being nominated for an Oscar and all.

You could say that our lives are pretty damn good. I still hold my mother's letters with me close to my heart. The very last letter which I opened on the one year anniversary of her death touched me the most and I will hold onto that letter until the day I die.

The phones were ringing off the hook this morning. I had a bunch of people signing up for an appointment. Every organization wanted me to have an open seminar about joining my group. 

"Claire, can you get that?" I shouted, putting the customer on hold, filing through stacks and stacks of papers.

"So, now that it's the weekend, do you have any fun plans? Like maybe a date?" Claire, my best friend from Yale, sat on the edge of my desk after she took the call.

"Claire, I'm a busy gal, I don't have time for relationships, you know that." I blew the piece of hair in the middle of my face out of the way, and filed the stacks of papers into their drawers.

"C'mon, tonight is the annual fall festival down at the beach!" She whined.

"George and I are going, you should come along just for the hell of it. Maybe you'll meet someone." She teased. You're probably wondering who George is, Claire met him in her English class at Yale her freshman year. They've been together since. Claire calls George her soul mate. I was wishful like her years ago as a teenager. 

"Alright, fine. I'll tag along but no promises I'm going to find my prince charming." I laughed, getting out of my chair to stretch. After awhile, this job can kind of become sedentary. 

"Yes! George and I will pick you up around six, yeah?" She asked, as she packed up her belongings, getting ready to leave.

"Yeah, sounds good." I smiled and she waved goodbye.

I closed up the office for the weekend and was hot on Claire's trail as we walked to our cars. I got into my blue Honda accord and sped home. I was in need of a hot bath before tonight's festivities. I mean yeah Claire is kind of right, I probably should start looking out for someone special. I finished college, the busiest point in my life and now I should start settling down. I'm still young, twenty two but I am kind of lonely in this house sometimes.

When I got home, I started a hot bath and tossed in lush bath bomb, lighting some candles. I popped a bottle of champagne and hopped into the bathtub. I could sit in here all night but I knew Claire was right, Claire was always right.

After a good soak, I got into my bathrobe and blew out the candles. I set the half empty bottle of champagne onto the bathroom counter and sauntered off to my bedroom. I spent at least fifteen minutes just staring at the inside of my closet waiting for the perfect outfit to just appear. I finally gave up and chose the black skinny jeans and red peplum lace top. For choice of shoe, I chose a rather more mature look and chose my black wedges. I curled my hair and put on some makeup. I was feeling rather confident. I should do this more often.

"Knock knock!" Claire said as she knocked on the door from downstairs.

I rushed down and opened the door to see my beautiful best friend dazzling in a white dress and her man not so dolled up but in cargo shorts and a collared shirt.

"Hi George, Claire you look great!" I hugged her.

"Great? Look at you! Hot mama!" She giggled.

I blushed slightly and grabbed my purse off the coat rack.

"Ready?" I actually smiled. Here's to a new Marissa!

"Of course! Let's go!" Claire took my hand and we ran out to her black Kia Sorrento.

"What about me, ladies?" George teased as he was still at the top of my driveway near my house.

I got into the back and Claire sat up front with her hub. The drive to the beach was a short ten minutes. I have to say, I'm actually kind of excited. I haven't had this much excitement since I was a young teenager.

"I'm starved, you?" Claire rubbed her stomach and looked at me.

"Yeah, I could eat something. Where you want to go?" I asked.

"Hot dogs? I could really go for one right now." Claire was practically drooling at the hot dog stand that stood just feet away from us.

"Claire, you hate hot dogs...." I pointed out.

"Not today mama!" And then she bolted to the stand.

George and I shared a quick glance and shrugged our shoulders, following Claire.

I ordered one hot dog with ketchup and sat at a bench alone as George chased Claire around the beach, throwing sand at one another. I wonder what being that in love feels like. I got up to toss my napkin into the garbage can when my hand touched someone else's. I picked my head up to quickly apologize but instead I gasped.

"I'm...s-sorry." I stuttered, taking a few steps back.

"No, don't be." That familiar voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Marissa, is that really you?" 

"Yes Cole, it's me."