Twenty-Eight Stamps [#Wattys2017] || ✓

the e i g h t e e n t h letter

Dear Hunter,

I cried myself to sleep that night out of happiness, rather than sadness or anger like I had in the past. Me, Maia Elizabeth Chambers, going to prom with Hunter Cross? It almost seemed comical. We were an unlikely pair. We shouldn't have even spared each other glances at school. A few months ago, we had never even spoken to each other. And yet now, despite you rarely telling me much about yourself, you were one of the closest friends I had, and we were going to prom together. I was so excited, Hunter, and that was all down to you. Yeah, you'd said we were going as friends, but that didn't really matter to me.

I can remember my mum asking why I was so bubbly and excited when I got home. I told her I was going to prom, and she asked who with, so I told her — Hunter, the guy who rides motorbikes. I may or may not have added in that I thought I loved you.

My mum was beside herself with happiness; she had always had a liking for you. I think she still does. She was the one who took me shopping for the dress, the purple wraparound one with the pleat that was noticeable but didn't expose me too much. She even bought me makeup and accessories to wear.

The only reason I wore all of this, the only reason I made such an effort was to impress you. To make you see me.

To make you love me.

Thanks to you, I learned my lesson: you can't make someone love you through a pretty dress, a mask of perfect makeup, a false personality or anything that you can do yourself. Eventually the dress comes off, the makeup is wiped away and the facade drops to reveal the true person, because when it comes to love, appearance is the least significant detail. I've recently come to believe it's an act of destiny. Sometimes I wonder if it was something I did, that made destiny choose for me to love you so unconditionally, but for that love to be unrequited.

All my love, always,
Maia.