How To Love ✓

45.

Amara

When I got home, I shuffled quickly to my room and out of everyone's eyesight, allowing the tears to freely cascade down my cheeks and stain my t-shirt. As he left to board his plane, the strings attaching us together slowly stripped away. Distance may keep two hearts apart but not the love we shared. A home is where your heart finds peace and comfort and my heart will always desire Lucien Matthaeus King.

In the end, it was his choice and all I could have done was support him through it all.

It took me until Christmas to open the envelope. As I sat on the front patio, sipping on hot chocolate while my family from out of state all gathered inside to listen to Luke and my uncle battle on the piano, I nervously ripped the envelope open and stare at its contents. I reached in for the note inside and buried underneath were a small golden key and... Mr. Chester's locket?

I wrapped the locket around my finger and placed the key on my lap. I took a long drag of oxygen in and ventured to read the letter.

"I have read innumerable novels, all of which reinforces the idea that love makes us whole, heals our deepest scars, and is necessary for our survival. From Shakespeare's immutable works to the tragic romance of Catherine and Heathcliff, I thought love was just a fiction found only in books. That belief shattered the day I met my very own Catherine Earnshaw.  Before I met you, I could never have imagined being wholly and utterly consumed by another. You took hold of my hand, leading me out of the darkness and exposing the core of our souls. Your pure heart picked me over all the better guys in the world, notwithstanding the differences between ours. You supported me, imparted invaluable life lessons, and transformed me for the better, my princess. Though I am by no means your ideal partner and am far from flawless, I work hard to be the man you inevitably deserve. You have my entire heart and soul. I can honestly say that you are the person I love the most in this world."

"Yours, Lucien," as I read in my mind, I felt myself choking on tears. I closed the letter and slowly examined the key. Engraved on it wrote property of Lucien King and Amara Belle, Lancaster Art Gallery, 1988.

I grabbed my phone from my coat pocket and dialed William's phone number. On the fourth ring, he picked up.

"Mr. Chester, hi. Merry Christmas. I hope this isn't a bad time to call," I sniffed, trying to clear my nostrils.

His voice sounded vacant, and I felt really awful that he had no one to spend Christmas with. He tried to hide it by cheerfully wishing me a Merry Christmas. "Is everything okay? You shouldn't be sad, especially on Christmas."

"No, I'm okay, thank you for worrying. It's just-"

He cut me off. "I know, you're missing Lucien. My, the same feeling I got whenever Josephine wasn't around."

I lightly smiled. "It just feels surreal you know. Like I'm missing a part of me. Through the tough times and the wonderful times, he still chose me, we still chose each other.... and without one, we aren't whole."

"Well, that's true love and whenever anyone asks you for the definition, at least you'll have your own story to tell," he stated, and I agreed.

I went ahead to ask, "So, I really called you to get some information on this key that has Lucien and I's names engraved at the back with a place? What's this all about William?" my lips quivered as I tried to comprehend what this all meant.

I heard lots of shuffling on his end before he finally cleared his throat to explain. "I would've preferred if you heard this come out of your lover's mouth than mine but, I guess time is never in our favour. Well, a few weeks past, Lucien paid me a visit when I was still in the hospital a-a-a-and he said that... he wanted to do something... special for you and I could've told how much he loved you, even though he constantly denied that it was too early to tell. But really, why push through all of the struggles and pain for someone you don't love? So, when I informed you about the visit to my hometown to view the screening of Wuthering Heights and that the owner was anxious to meet you..." he paused for a moment before continuing, "the visit was a surprise to you, that I'm the owner and that I was gifting the art gallery to you and Lucien for saving my life."