When I get home, I pull my letters out and find open this when you miss me. I open it and start reading.
Dear Emma, If you're reading this letter, I miss you too. I know it's been a while since we've seen each other, and I want to change that more than anything, but since I can't right now, this letter is the best I can do. You can call me anytime you want, your voice is my favorite sound. I love you and I hope we'll see each other again soon.
I smile, blinking away tears. I get up and frame the letter, hanging it by the others.
"Oh, there you are." My mom says. "Dad will be home soon, I thought we could go out to dinner, if you're feeling up to it."
"Sure, that sounds nice."
"Are you ok? It looks like you've been crying."
"Yeah, I walked to the little roadside memorial. It was just... weird seeing it for the first time, you know?"
"Yeah."
"I need to bring something the next time I go. like flowers or something, Or maybe I can laminate a picture of us and bring that."
"A picture would be a good idea."
"Yeah, I think flowers would make me sad, because flowers die and I'm trying not to think about anything dying right now."
"Flowers make me sad too, sometimes."
"Really?"
"Yes. When I was your age, your father got me flowers for valentine's day, I kept them in the sun and changed the water every day, but it didn't make a difference, they still died. I cried for two hours straight, and your dad felt so bad that he bought me chocolate and a teddy bear." She laughs. "He's always been such a gentleman. He even apologized for the flowers dying." Now I laugh.
"Your stories are always the best." I say.
"Well, I'm glad you like them."
"Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I'll go to school tomorrow."
"Are you sure honey? I mean, even the nurse said you should take a few days off."
"Yeah. I'm sure."
"I'm very proud of you, Emma. But if you need me to come get you, go to the office and give me a call, here, I'll write you a note saying you can call if you need me. Do you have a pen and paper?" I laugh.
"Mom, I'll be ok, I promise."
"I would feel better if you had a note, I know they won't have a problem with you calling, but just in case, you know?"
"Okay." I get a pen and paper from my backpack and hand it to her.
"Thank you. Go ahead and get ready, dad will be home soon."
YOU ARE READING
Open This When...
RomanceEmma's boyfriend is dead, but his memory is not. She still has his jacket, his football Jersey, the necklace he gave her, and a huge stack of "Open This When" letters he had written for her. As she reads them, she realizes that he loved her more tha...
