where the water meets the moon | e.d.

thirty

ethan

june 18

ken,

i've been thinking about you a lot recently. i hope california is well, and that your parents are doing okay. you'll have to fill me in when you get here, because your letter was kind of scrambled all over the place. you're going to love our captain. he's an old guy (which i know might make you nervous, but i promise he's a good one) and his birthday was earlier this month. addison, evan, and i made him pancakes. speaking of them, i know you'll get along with them too. sorry i haven't really mentioned them that much in my past letters. evan's really funny and addison... you'll just have to meet. don't worry, you'll like her.

i smile when i write that last part, for some reason.

anyway, research has been great! we've finally caught up to boat 9 and are working towards running samples through some tests and identification processes. you like that stuff, right? also, the water is so pretty here since we're not far from the island. not too dark, not crystal clear. kind of a good medium. i "drowned" and now it's a running joke on the ship, so i'll have to fill you in on it when you arrive. funny story, actually.
lastly, i got addison to make you a bracelet! we all have one. i told her to make your's pink and orange.

i love you,
e

"whatcha writingggg?" addison asks in a curious and teasing tone, leaning over the back of the kitchen booth.

i laugh and swat my hand up to get her away. "my letters. have you done yours?"

she groans dramatically, draping herself against the back and letting her long hair cascade down.
"no, i've been too lazy."

"the mail ship comes in tomorrow. better get on it," i lecture and begin to fold up all my papers to envelope size. "hey can you do me a favor?"

"depends."

"can you lick all these envelopes? last week i got a paper cut. wanna see?"

i begin to stick out my tongue, but she holds a hand up. "i'll take your word for it. i won't lick your envelopes, but i have some fun stickers that i use for mine."

i roll my eyes. "oh great."

"shut up!" she giggles as she runs to her room. "you'll like them!"

when she returns, there's sheets upon sheets of different types of stickers in her hands. they range from ocean animals to shapes and flowers.

"here," she peels one off and holds it out to me.

i take it from her hands and glance down at it.
"a turtle. nice."

"see?" she points at it. "your other twin."

"grayson will like that," i laugh out and stick it on the flap of his envelope.

she helps me pick out a daisy one for my mom, a smiley face for my sister, and a simple red heart for kendall.

inside of her envelope, i stuffed the pink and orange friendship bracelet that addison was more than ecstatic to make.