Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination.
One
I received letters from him, and of course, I didn't respond. I couldn't respond, I couldn't even read them. I knew as soon as I did, if I told him the things I repeat to myself before I fall asleep, I love you, I miss you, please wait for me, Cal, he would be on the next jet to Montfort. But most of all, it would make it harder to stay away from him. It would make me miss him more violently than I already do.
I received letters every time Julian would visit Montfort. With Julian's job of Nortan Ambassador, his visits have become more frequent. His plane would land once every two weeks at the Montfort airfield and Julian would be at my doorstep the next day.
The first letters were a month after the Nortan Republic was established, three weeks after I had left Norta.
Julian showed up on the doorstep of my family's home, his hands clasped behind his back, clad in black pants and a lemon yellow shirt. I don't know when he did away with the dusty mustard colored robes but tailored slacks suit him.
My mother opened the door and welcomed my old tutor with a giant hug, clearly taking Julian off guard by the surprise evident in his face. My mother has always liked Julian, more so after I told her about more of my time with the Silvers and of his tutelage.
Dad is still more reserved in his liking of certain Silvers, but he owes gratitude to Julian and Sara Skonos. He strode over to meet Julian and clasped hands with him. "Good to see you, Jacos." He greeted with a genuine grin on his face, meeting the old singers eye contact with no fear. Either he doesn't know what Julian is capable of or he doesn't care, fearing nothing from Julian.
"As well as you, Daniel," Julian took stock of my father's stance nodding in approval, his smile spreading. "Sara will be pleased to hear you are excelling with every step."
My father, one hand still in Julian's, takes his other hand and covers Julian's, "I can never thank her enough."
Julian reciprocates Dad's actions and looks at their hands, as if struck by this simple moment. A red man's hands in a Silver nobles. He meets my father's eyes with meaning, "And I can't thank you enough." My father clapped Julian on the shoulder, a genuine smile on his lips.
As my parents leave us in the entry way Julian hands me a package of three letters tied with red twine. They are thick royal stationary. Slightly browned, with a stamp of the burning crown embossed upon the paper. No other use for the Royal House of Calore's stationary than writing the red-blooded lightening girl. "The top one is from Sara and me. The other two…" He ran a hand through his pale thinning hair. "Well the other two are from Cal." The corners of his eyes wrinkle as he looked down to me. "But, I suppose you already knew that."
I nodded. Of course I knew.
I took the letters and held onto them for a week before I even untied the string.
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