Yours Truly

September 2, 2022

Dear Phil,

It's over. I thought I could handle it without you, that I could manage the dead and the empty bed.

After they bit you I couldn't bring myself to bash your head in. You cried so much, you begged for me to make it quick. You stared at me with your big blue eyes, tears running down your face, and your hands gripping me. You told me to come with you, that I was already losing too much blood and that you couldn't bare to leave me alone. But I had hope Phil.

I kissed you with all I had left in me, you knew this was the last time as you grabbed my cheek and left a bloody hand print. I cried as you gripped my shirt and told me to make it quick.

My ears were ringing as I limped back to the house. I grabbed the shovel and didn't fix my bleeding till I had placed you in the ground next to your parents.

It's over Phil. I hate this empty house and the stupid forget me nots that remind me of how much I truly am forgetting, ironically.

So this is the last letter, this is me telling you that I forgive you for hurting me and thank you for loving me. This is me telling you that if this stupid disease hadn't happened I would have spent the rest of my life with you, that I would have loved to get a dog and take it on walks, or to have started a family with you.

Here's to us Phil, to all the amazing things you made me feel and the amazing life we lived.

Sincerely,  Dan

I felt tears stream down my cheeks as I stared at the glass case in awe. I thought the museum of virus and disease history would be boring, I was obviously mistaken. I stared at the letter splattered with what I assume blood.

"They found the boy who wrote the letters with a bullet in his head" my mouth was open as I turn to look at the man who worked there.

"What did they do with him" I mumble looking at the case again.

"Buried him in a field of flowers" he pauses and grabs my shoulder "next to another grave" he adds before turning away.

I feel myself slowly smile as the thought of those two strangers in love, Dan and Phil buried next to each other.