Timidly

18 | letters to you

Shortest chapter, I know!

—————————

Costello P.O.V

EVERYONE IS SILENT as they read their letters. Twelve eyes, six pairs, including my own dart across the words. Donna's handwriting is small and neat, almost to the point where it's unreadable.

Nina finishes first, setting down her letter with care, as if fearing it will melt into the coffee table, lost forever. She blinks away the tears, the droplets rolling down her cheeks, dripping from her chin.

"D-did anyone know what she was going through?" Nina stutters, bumping her knees together. My sister looks at me, me, as If I know something she doesn't.

I do. I've always known.

"Yes" I simply answer, putting my focus back on my letter. It's bent at the edges, not an inch of paper left bare; like Donna wrote an entire book chapter about our love, about us, about everything in general.

"We should of been better to her; better friends, maybe then Donna would have stayed longer, forever maybe" Karen breaths, staring down at her hands.

"It's not your fault, or mine. Donna's had a rough life, but all we can hope for is that she'll be strong enough to face her demons without us physically present" Shane directs at Karen, draping an arm around her and pulling her close. They share a moment that no one can miss.

Then Viktoria's bitter laughs fill the air.

"You're fucking kidding me, right? Donna will not be able to do that. She won't have a better life in New York. She's only going because her best friend is too scared to face his homophobic family alone. Donna's convinced going back to an unsafe environment, where she's not wanted or loved, is the only option!"

Viktoria grips Sebastian's shoulder, wavering a little. Her face is beet red, her mascara smudged. She takes a deep breath.

"What I mean is-" Viktoria begins, her voice softer. "-Donna doesn't really want to leave us. We can't let her go, not at least without trying to reason with her"

Everyone turns to me, faces full of hope.

"Guys, we can't. We have to respect both Manny and Donna's choices. I promised them. I'm not breaking that promise"

My heart beats loudly inside my chest, racing, pulsing. Sebastian steps forward, his sharp jaw clenched. "Come on, Costello. You've been my mate since we were kids; so you can trust me when I say, you love this girl more than anything in the world"

"And baby brother, it's not just Donna who needs us...we need her"

Nina speaks up, and all the others follow, stating why we should at least try to get Donna, even Manny, to stay. Memories and moments of happiness tumble from the lips of my best friends.

It's as if they're being replayed in my head, each glorious moment. Nights out by Series Lake, counting the stars that hung above us, that glowed like fireflies. Free coffees from Hopeless Beans, feeling the warmth from the beverages and each other. Days at The Mirror Garden, sprawled along the overgrown grass, staring at our reflections.

It makes me realise that I can't keep the promise I've made to Donna.

"Well then-" I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. "-lets go get them back"

I just hope I'm not too late.

—————————