It was a warm summer’s morning. She stretched languidly like a cat, from toes to fingertips, feeling her sinews sigh as she released herself. She was taut. What would the day bring? Would it be ripe with infinite possibilities or ripped apart by total despair? She held these two polarities in her already scorched hands. She didn’t shy away from a fight no matter how brutal it was, or heartbreaking. She had faced challenge before, but she looked it in the eye because she knew that’s where life’s lessons lay.
They’d talked endlessly, holding the pieces of their life puzzle delicately, observing and occasionally shining a light for a closer look. They considered carefully with candour and compassion, emotions rising like dragons, consuming them both. They were wrung out. So, she said simply.
“You decide my love – all will be well”.
She didn’t fully believe it, but she tried. Her glass heart shattered sending tiny shards into her skin from the inside out.
She sat still on a chair by the door, waiting for the postman. It was a dying art, letter writing but one they both shared, together with a passion for words. She had kept every one of his letters bound with love and red ribbon.
She rocked her foot to disperse her anxiety. A text would have been quicker; but they both agreed that letters in real ink held more gravitas. To ease the trepidation, they suggested a little “heads-up”. Black ink for solemnity. Blue ink for hope.
She jumped as the letter box clanked, a cream envelope fluttering in slow-motion to the mat. It fell face down. She took a breath, toes curling in fear as she moved to pick it up. It felt weighty. She smiled to see it was embossed with a gold edge. He always was a classy guy.
“I’ll turn it over in 3. 2. 1’. Nothing happened. Her hand froze. The letterbox clanked again, a large parcel landing directly on her big toe. “Owww” she said hopping slightly, the cream card catapulting from her fingertips. This time
it landed face up.
She stole a glance.
It was blue. She dropped to her knees, fingers fumbling. On the card, just 3 words.
‘I choose you’.