The Truth and What Remains: An Adrienette story

Chapter 8: The Letters of Bitter Tears

I trailed my cold and desolate fingers over the material that was paper.... but what was colder and more gut wrenching was what was written on that paper. With trembling hands, I peeled the letter apart and inched out a paper that was neatly wrapped inside of it. What kind of answer or explanation I will get from this... I don't know... but how can I expect it to be any good? With a heavy heart, I read it.

Dear Adrien,

If you are reading this, I guess it means you already know...I'm leaving... and I know that you're hurt with me leaving for no reason and without saying goodbye. Just when... we were starting to blossom into something more... just our luck hmmm? I wanted to tell you that I'll probably not come back... ever... I can't... for both of our sakes. However, I wanted to say all these things to you while we were together, but now that I can't, I might as well say them here. I hope you realize that I will always be here with you, even if I'm not physically there. I know how cold you father is towards you and believe me when I say that I want to be there for you. You'll probably hate me since... I promised you that I would see things with you to the end and I flaked out. No. It's not like that, but it's for reasons that I can't explain. I wanted to tell you that... even though I hope you'll wait for me, I know I can't do that to you. You're the greatest guy I've ever met and some lucky girl is going to be lucky to have you, I had you for a good second and it was the most amazing feeling in the world. See the world, find new hope and happiness, you can do it without me. I love you... and.... I hope we get to meet again someday, somewhere, in another life. I have to stay away from you, for both of our sakes, and I'll never get tired of saying it or writing it: I love you... so much. Goodbye... Adrien, and god forbid that I won't die from embarrassment from writing "I love you" two, scratch that, three times. Please... move on without me and place your anger and hatred on me because I will bear it with all my heart. I love you.

Love, Marinette

I was surprised I could even read the letter through my own blinding tears. I immediately noticed the smudged areas in the letter, they looked like tear stains, and a lot of them too. She was crying... so much when she wrote this. Who did this to her? Who caused her so much pain? That's all I wanna know and I'm gonna make that person pay. Marinette... I will find you again, and I'm gonna say those words I wished I told you in person:

"I love you too."

Dear Alya,

Alya... this may come as a bit of a shock to you but, I'm disappearing. I can't tell you why, but thank you... for being my best friend through all these years. You've always had my back and I've done nothing to help you in return. I'm sorry, I should have been a better friend. I made it all about me... I hope you're gonna keep smiling with Nino. I know how much you like him, don't think I haven't noticed you two making out behind my back. I wished we could have done so many more things together as best friends and now I won't be able to do any of them with you... You go out there and build your journalism career, I read your blogs you know? They're great. I know you're gonna do great.... don't worry about me. I may not be there physically but you'll hear me going on my Adrien rants if you listen close enough to the wind. Thank you again.... for being my best friend and I hope I was yours...

Your Best Friend, Marinette

"Mari... you're not the type to pull these sort of serious things... what happened to you? Why are you.. suddenly pushing all of us away?"

Dear Nino,

Hey. I've known you to be the easiest person to talk to. So I should be able to talk to you in this letter so easily... and yet why is it so hard to write this to you without crying? I'm sorry... I'm rambling and I'm writing it on paper, god dang it. Nino if you don't already know, I'm leaving... for a long time. Take care of Alya for me... she's my best friend and you're the one she loves so that shouldn't be a problem for you. You hurt her and I will make sure you see that pair of headphones on your neck as a choking device. KIDDING! But seriously, take care of her for me, you're gonna do the best job out of anyone. You're the funniest and most social guy around so I know you'll be fine. Comfort Adrien for me, I can't tell you why I'm leaving but I can tell you that it's better for all of us. My existence and an unexpected existence is becoming a problem for all of us. It sounds a lot like a depression statement but trust me when I say that it isn't. Take your music and DJ career far Nino, we weren't the best of friends but I can count on you to have my back. Face the music and make everyone smile with your DJ skills. Goodbye Nino...

Your dudette friend, Marinette

"You know... you're one of the only people who supports my DJ dream? It really sucks that you're gone..."

Dear Chloe,

What can I say? Well... you finally got your wish, I'm going to disappear and not in a good way. There's some things I can't control and it's best if I'm not around for your sake and the other's. I know that you didn't want to get rid of me like this, but you got your wish nonetheless. It was fun being bullied by you through high school. One thing I can say though is that you are an angel compared to Lila. Seriously. That is the ONLY compliment I am going to give you so hold on to it. You may be annoying, a brat, materialistic, pompous, a total witch, and spoiled like curdled milk, but I semi enjoyed the time that we had together. Try to get Adrien to move on... there's a good chance that I'm no longer what he needs, or at least that's how I think of myself. Chloe.... I know you're lonely inside and that nobody seems to care about you but all you have to do is make a little effort to be compassionate. Sometimes a little kindness makes all the difference, and this is not just a stupid moral quote. To you, it WILL mean a lot, trust me. Anyway... I guess this is good bye... Farewell Chloe.

Your semi frenemy for all eternity, Marinette

"Hmph... what makes you think you know me? *sniff* I'll try Maritrash, you can count on me. And I'll try to listen to your advice, it is your final parting words."

Dear Lila,

Hello darkness my old friend, I see we've come to meet again. Ehem... sorry. Sometimes you just have to say you're fine, but you're not really fine, but you can't get into it. SORRY! It was too funny to pass up. Anyway... Lila.... you're a total bitch, let's get that out of the way.... and... wow... there's really nothing else I can say! Oh yeah! You might want to do something about that botched eye lift, it makes you look like a total snake. I am so glad I got that out.... BYE!

The girl who made you eat your words, Marinette

"Wow... what a bitch."

"She is right though you gotta admit, you are a bitch, and your letter was pretty funny."

"Hey!"

"Oh my god! You did have plastic surgery to lift your eye! No wonder you don't look human."

"Shut up!"

There's more letters in the collection but these were just some of them. The question is: what is she trying to say? The culmination of these letters, maybe not Lila's leads to a huge answer... but what is it? Marinette.... I swear, I will purge your darkness and you can smile again and you won't have to cry on a goodbye letter anymore. Not while I'm alive....

I promise.