Paper Lanterns

PART III - HIS

Dear Mr. Steve,

We said goodbye that night. I know that it might seem useless that I'm writing you this letter, because you'll never get to read it. But you're the only one right now that I can talk to about things like this. I couldn't seem to focus on what I was reviewing for our test tomorrow, so I went ahead and wrote this in my notes instead. Even if I know that you're already gone and it's been a while since I've done this, this still brings back good memories.

She took her time to read your letter in silence. From what I saw based on her reaction, there was a high chance that she would eventually understand what you did, sir.

And as she was reading your letter, I also stared at her longingly for the last time. She would be gone. She did. You might be wondering why I felt that way. I was only asked to make her accept her inheritance, and it should have been that simple. But I fell in love with your granddaughter, sir. I didn't know if you had this in mind when you had asked me to find her. I couldn't seem to say if this was in any of your intentions, but there would always be the voice in the back of my head that maybe, just maybe you also saw that this might happen.

I could only wonder why it had to be me. And now, you'd never get to answer this question, like you always did before. You'd been generous in answering all my questions about anything that had sparked my interest before. You always had the answer. Why did it have to be me, sir?

If perhaps we were in a different situation and her mother's accident didn't happen, maybe things would be different. Perhaps that was what you had in mind. It is in mine, sir. During those last moments that I had with her as we lingered in silence in my car in front of the building where she lived, I desperately wished that I was someone else. That I could hold on to her. Like she said, someone she could forgive. But then, after everything that had happened, I was in no place to do any of that.

Several weeks have passed, and I greatly miss her. I don't think it'll be possible for me to forget her. I'll remain sorry to her for everything that I've done. I'll miss her, those letters, her face, everything. I already got used to it, and it would be hard to live each day without them. Wherever I look, it reminds me of her. And whenever I think of you, I'll think of her as well. I miss the both of you.

In this life, there are many things that I'll never be certain of. I couldn't even remember the time when I started to care for her, or to think of her more often than I should. But I knew that somehow, as time went on, I felt that.

And now, even if all those feelings were nothing but vague memories, I kept on going back to that day when I first saw her at that festival. The moment our eyes locked, I knew that my life would never be the same again. It was as if she had been pulled out from the letters, breathing in front of me. And by then, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before things would change. Before I would fall in love.

I kept on rereading her letters addressed to you, trying to feel the void. Before I knew it, she took a huge place in my heart. And after she left, that place had been empty. These letters were never mine, even if they were what I'd been most expectant about for the last five years.

She made amends with Natalie and her aunt. Zander told me about it. I was very glad when I'd heard the news. She got a great family and those new friends that she met here in New Waulds City. I hope that her life will turn for the better now. And one day soon, I'll make things right, as promised. I will do what I can to clear her mother's name.

I know that she'll eventually pull the pieces back together again. And maybe, if I'm lucky, she will remember me at times. I just hope that the good could make up for all the bad memories. That somehow, the thought of me will make her smile, even for just a while.

Missing you,

Eric