Captivation

18: Girlfriend

Girlfriend (noun): a regular female companion with whom a person has a romantic or sexual relationship

The letter is dated from six years ago, and it looks forgotten about.

I can’t stop myself from reading it.

Henry,

You’re leaving today. I am happy for you, really, I am. I just wish you didn’t want to leave this town so badly. I get it though, everything that happened with your dad…

I almost stop reading here but I continue on anyway.

I just wish you wanted me to come with you. I would have. My dad would kill me, and you, but he would have to find us first wouldn’t he? I think that leaving is always a tricky thing. I guess there was just more that you wanted to leave than what you wanted to stay for. Sometimes I thought you might stay for me.

Again, I understand though, that’s what friends are for right? I just wish I wasn’t your friend. But you never really did the whole girlfriend thing. I would have been your girlfriend if that’s what you wanted.

I love you Henry.

And right now I’m too scared to give this to you, so I’m hiding it here, under your mattress, I hope you find it, and think about me. It will never be too late to come back.

Alina

I put the letter down. I am guessing that Henry never found it, I was the one who broke the seal. Alina’s message never went through, six years and it still hasn’t been found.

I fold the letter back up and put it under the mattress.

I wonder who Alina is.

I leave Henry’s room after I am sure that everything is back how it was.

“We reach Felticion tomorrow!” Ron cheers from the deck above me.

A couple guys cheer and I smile. I am glad to get out of the water, but I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll meet Alina. I wonder if Henry ever suspected she was interested. I think he must have, but then again I’m not sure.

Alina is a pretty name.

***

“Wake up,” My shoulder is shaken gently.

I open my eyes and see a green on and a blue one staring back at me.

“We’ve just docked.” He tells me.

“Isn’t it early?” I murmur.

“Nope, it’s almost noon.”

“Are we docked?” I ask, rolling onto my back.

“We are.” He tells me, and I realize that he already told me that we docked. He reaches his hand out. I take it and get out of bed.

Henry leaves me and I get dressed, brushing out my hair and securing the front pieces back with the pins I stole from Henry.

I sigh and walk out of my room.

I see Henry leaning against the masts. It’s just Henry, all of the other men are off the ship.

“Wow.” I shade my eyes from the sun. “I’m late.”

“You are.” Henry smiles.

“You didn’t have to wait for me.” I tell him.

“I’m nice.” He shrugs.