Artemis Fowl the Second sat at the mahogany desk in his study. After several silent moments, Artemis pulled out a sheet of his monogrammed stationary and began to write.
Dear Ms Short,
Dear Captain Short,
Dear Holly,
You will never read this letter. You will never hold this paper in your hands and read the words that I have written. You will never know what is etched deep in my heart. As it should be.
I was twelve years old when I met you. A child. Yes, a child genius, but a child nonetheless. I was cruel, cold, and calculating, while you, Holly, were warm, brave, and giving, even when I did not deserve it. I didn't see you for what you were then; you were a prize to be won, and for that I am sorry. You saved my mother and then my father in the Arctic. We fought goblins together and in my mind, you became a worthy opponent. I was still a child.
I watched you during our trip to Chicago. It was there you became a friend. Right before my mind wipe, as I looked into your eyes and fooled the mesmer, I realized how much I valued your friendship. It was then that I began to grow up.
I'm not stupid, Holly. In fact, I'm quite the opposite. You would roll your eyes here, Holly. Ahhh, your eyes. Shall I tell you how it thrills me that you have a part of me, and I of you? No, that is for a later time. I don't deserve you, Holly. You are too good for me. You are the essence of everything bright and good. You are loving, caring, the best friend anyone could ask for. At the risk of sounding redundant, I don't deserve you.
And yet, I love you. I love you as a man, Holly. Albeit, a Mud Man. I love you as I could never love another. I love your laugh, your audacity, your vivaciousness, your everything. I cannot count the times I have woken, the feel of your lips on mine. It was in that moment that,that moment in time, that I became a man, Holly. You did that to me. You have altered me beyond repair.
And yet, my elf kissing days are over. I lament that I will never again be able to feel your lips,will never be able to wake with you in my arms. But this is my burden to bear.
I want, I wish. I want you to forgive me for all the horrendous things I've done to you. I wish it was enough for me to say I'm sorry, but it is not. I want to be with you forever. I wish that I had never seen you die, never felt your lips, never grown to love you. No, that is a lie. Out of all the things I regret, I do not regret loving you.
You are the reason I am who I am today. I love you, Holly.
Forever and Sincerely Yours,
Artemis Fowl II
Artemis opened up a desk drawer and pulled out a lighter. He watched as the paper turned to ashes, and all his dreams of having her once again were locked away.