Forest of Rope

Chapter 13

Dear Alexis,

I know this is going against all my promises but I've come to realise that under the circumstances I was in no position to make them to you in the first place. I was wrong to say the words I did and if I could take them back right now I would.

Another thing I'm sorry for is ending things between us over a stupid note. I think we both know it's better off this way yet something tells me you're not totally convinced. Don't worry, I don't expect you to be. In fact, I expect you to hate me for this (if you don't already). There's not much I can say to justify what I'm about to do, well, at least maybe one thing:

I want to see you happy.

It's the truth, hate me all you want. That's all I want, it's all I have left. And let's face it: you just can't be happy around me, not anymore.

So if you still feel something for me, if you feel anything at all, you'll let me go.

After all, you still owe me a couple promises...

Please look after yourself,

- Riley

She was holding the note in her hand when she was found. It wasn't immediately clear that she'd downed a tube of sleeping pills because she'd disposed of it, along with many of her other worldly possessions that she wouldn't be needing. With the weight of eternal sleep bearing down on her, Alexis had felt oddly satisfied that it wasn't as typical a suicide as it could have been.

She may have stalled and cried for help and resorted to every other cheap cliché in the book but at least she hadn't left the empty canister inches away from her hand to instantly telegraph to the poor bastard who found her exactly what was going on.

When her body was frantically lifted off the floor and carried away the farewell note edged out of Alexis's grip, landing on its side to reveal a message of her own inscribed on the opposite side of the paper.

Dear Riley, it read.

See you on the other side.