Northern Star~

Time has passed, days have gone by,
while I waited patiently,
I thought, the world was selfish,
it kept on revolving, spurring, creating
While I stood still, broken, lifeless.

Today was turning into tomorrow, present fading to future,
But I encaged myself in past.
And then,
there were you, annihilating all my walls,
Boy! I tried hard, to keep the waves at bay
All my restrains were ebbed away.

The farther I ran, the closer I was
to you…
The long roads, the dusty narrow path,
led me straight to you.

Chapter 1~ Private & Confidential

Exhausted, he walked through the front door. His hand gripped the oppressive knot around his neck and jerked it down. Exhaling deeply he stepped on the staircase, cautiously placing one foot over the other. A simple task never seemed to drain more energy. Somehow he managed to get to the farthest corner of the corridor; he eyed the doorknob for a long moment. Contemplating his action, he exhaled one more time and pushed the door open. Throwing his messenger bag over the recliner he walked towards his desk.

The laptop lid was still open, although the screen was black. It was hard to find a slither of the desk through the scattered papers, held in place by the neon color paper weight. He slumped over the revolving chair, his fingers racking through the dark locks. He inhaled sharply and finally relinquished to numbness.

He failed to notice the dark silhouette standing near the doorframe; she didn't move a muscle, quietly observing the weary male. Ever so tenderly she advanced towards him, her dark silk robe lightly swaying with the air. Once beside, she reached for his face, her delicate fingers ghosting over his skin, slowly massaging his scalp, while her voluminous curls nuzzled his side. None of them uttered a word; breathing in the silence she continued her ministration.

"Bad day?" she whispered.
"Worst! Bad month!" frustration seeped through the words.
She pulled his hands away, bending closer she placed a soft kiss on his forehead. Her fingers caressing his cheeks, she looked deep in those ocean blues and smiled. "It will get better, honey."
He gave a brief nod, but didn't say a word.

Knowing she won't get further answers she decided to press on, "Um, they rejected the manuscript?"
He jerked his head up, "What do you think?"
She didn't flinch, by now she was well accustomed to his temper tantrums, instead of throwing a fit, she just held him closer. He resisted for a moment, soon his hands found their way around her torso.
"They called me to the office to say the text is not yet ready to be published." He glanced up to meet her eyes. "According to the editor, it has potential. They're intrigued by the theme but…"
"But?"
He untangled his arms from her, bringing his palm over the desk, "Apparently, 'it isn't juicy. A subject like this requires more of those elements. That's what the readers want.' So they want me to revise the text and send it back to them." He huffed, "Can you believe it? I mean the success of a story depends upon the amount of sexual content consolidated in it. They could have flat out rejected the story; I would have felt more dignified with it."

She chewed on her bottom lip, "Damon, maybe…"
"Don't. Just… You know this manuscript is more than just a text to me. Do not ask me to tamper with it, I just can't, not with this one." He buried his face in his hands.
"Then why are you disappointed?" She smiled, "No doesn't mean never, it just means not now." She stared at his glazed eyes, "Tomorrow try sending the text to another publication, Okay." He gave a weak smile and nodded. "Now, are you staying here or…"
"I wanna sit here for a while. Um… can you get me a cup of coffee?" he asked sheepishly.
"Will do." She placed a chaste kiss on his lips and was about to walk away when he tugged her hand.
"Thank you, for bearing me. I don't know what I'll do without…"
"Now, Mr. Salvatore, we don't want you becoming mushy at…" she stole a peek at the wall clock, "8 in the evening. Do we?" She was glad to find his usual smirk back at its place. He pulled her even closer and wrapped his arms around her middle. "I love you."
She placed another kiss to his hair before untangling herself from his grasp and proceeded towards the door. "I kept your mails inside the drawer. First one on your left." With that she disappeared from his study.

He shook his head, a faint smile tugged his face as he reached for the drawer. Taking out the sealed bunch he scanned through the envelope, the smile evaporated as his eyes caught with the bold red letters stamped on the white sheet 'Private & Confidential'. With trembling fingers he plucked out the said envelope, involuntarily he tore off the seal and took out the folded sheets. He browsed over the carefully scripted words, admiring the penmanship, he always thought she'd have a flourishing career as a calligraphy artist. To that she would laugh until her stomach starts to ache. He almost smiled at the thought, but it had vanished as quickly as it came. It had been so long, that what remains is nothing but a faint memory.

Dear Damon,

You'd probably be envying my writing and thinking, how come someone like me have such an amazing penmanship, while you, despite being an 'Author' have a totally crappy writing. Don't give that face now, you know very well that I'm telling the truth. To get you out of your distress, I'll reveal my secret. While you were busy fiddling with the keyboard, I maintained a dedicated relationship with my journal, that and those letters that I've been sending your way, helped me to preserve this rare talent.

He couldn't stifle the chuckle that escaped his mouth, she had always been animated, even through letters one could actually read her expressions. At least he could.

I know, Damon, it's been years that I've written to you, well 3years 7months and 11days if you're counting. I kinda went MIA on you, changed phone number, left my old apartment and didn't leave any details. Trust me when I tell it wasn't my theatrics, not my usual attention seeking nature that prompted me to this decision, to be honest it was the opposite. I just wanted… needed to disappear, I wanted to stand at the shore and watch the world pass by. I needed you to evolve with this transient world and that could have never happened if I was constantly in it. You would have never agreed to let me go, I know I have hurt you, there's no apology in the world that would justify my action. But look at where you are, you've built a life for yourself, a good one indeed. You have a career that you've chosen for yourself, have a beautiful wife to support by your side and maybe a kid on the way.

He was stunned to his core, how could this be…

Yeah… I've kept my eyes on you, although you weren't able to distinguish. I made a promise all those years back, I wouldn't break it for the world, I would always be by your side. Yes Damon, I've watched you grow albeit the circumstances. I've seen you fall but then rise up, like I knew you would. I've watched you chase after your dreams, fearlessly, passionately. I've witnessed you become the man I knew you could be one day. I have been a constant in your life, like I promised but in your eyes I was invisible. But everything that starts must come to an end, that's cycle one cannot bypass. I'm afraid mine ends here, I can't carry on with it, not after discovering…
I need to see you Damon, I might not have much time left. Before the world crumbles down, I want to touch your beautiful face one last time, I want to stare in those deep blue eyes, before mine turns blank. If you can conjure up the strength to forgive your tortuous friend, then come to the address stated on the flip side of the paper, if you need time to heal or if you do not want to do anything with me anymore, I would understand.
I will forever be your Northern Star, even when it's invisible to naked eyes, remember I'm just beneath the surface.

Forever yours
Elle~

A/N: So here's the first chapter. Kindly drop a review once you finish reading, please. I mean you've read the text so why not write two three words about how you felt. That's all I need.

'All through the Night' will be updated next, hopefully within 3 days. :)
Thank you guys for being patient with me.