Some of the characters are mine...all mine and the rest I'm borrowing from JE

LETTERS IN THE ATTIC

I'm sitting in the attic of my parent's home, looking through the boxes that held the memories of their life together.

Why am I sitting in an old dusty attic? My parents died five years ago. It's taken me this long to come back here. The only reason I'm here now is by the advice of our family lawyer, Jim Lawson.

He insists that it's time to sell their home. He seems to think it's foolish to keep paying the taxes and upkeep on a home I never even visit. What he doesn't understand, though, is…it's hard to sell memories. And, this old house is full of memories of my parents.

As I looked around I could almost hear them laughing and loving each other. They shared a love that I've never seen in my life…a love that would last an eternity. One that I could only hope to have one day.

I sat there for about two hours, looking around, remembering how happy I was growing up here. Oh…hell, this isn't getting anything done.

I opened one of the boxes. Inside the box, was a smaller box. I had never seen it before. It was a small red box.

I took it out of the cardboard box. I sat back down, holding it in my lap. When I finally opened it, I found a bundle of letters tied together with a ribbon.

March 19

To My Dearest Love,

Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart.

I know I'm not always good at expressing my feelings. I should've told you how I felt long time ago. This is my one regret. I can only hope it's not too late.

I know this isn't probably isn't fair to you, but it's the only way I know how. Being away from you these two weeks has made me realize what a fool I've been and I had to tell you. I'll understand if you can't wait.

I have loved you for as long as I can remember. It's a feeling that, to be honest, scares the shit out of me. But, at the same time, not telling you scares me.

I don't know what kind of future I can promise you, but if you'll give me a chance, I can promise you that I'll love you for all the days I walk this earth.

Remember I love you always.

March 20

To My Dearest Love,

I know this sounds crazy…writing to you everyday, but I don't care. I have a lot of 'I love you's' to make up for. Some of us go our entire lives without knowing what true love is. If I know what love is, it is because of you.

If I get back from this fucked up mission…I promise, if you'll listen, I'll tell you everyday…as many times as you'll let me how much I love you.

I miss you so much. I miss your passion and zest for life. I miss the desire that blazes in those beautiful eyes of your. Most of all, I miss holding you in my arms.

I'm sorry I have to go now.

Remember, I love you always.

March 21

To My Dearest Love,

It's been hell here. The moral is down. We're training for this mission, sometimes twelve to fourteen hours a day. The men are exhausted and desperately need a break. I don't see one in our near future, though.

No matter how many hours we train, I can never seem to sleep until I write to you. I miss you so much. It seems like it's been an eternity since I've held you in my arms.

I dream of you every night…holding you…making love to you.

I'm sorry I have to end now. It's two in the morning and I only have three hours to shower and sleep.

Remember I loveyou always.

No matter how exhausted my father was…he would write to my mom every night before he went to bed. He wrote of how much he loved and missed her.

April 19

To My Dearest Love,

You can't imagine how I felt when mail call came and I had a letter. I knew before I even had the letter in my hand that it was from you.

My heart pounded as I held it in my hand. All the guys harassed me. "Are you going to open that or just sit there and stare at it?" They asked me.

I was nervous. I closed my eyes and prayed for the first time in a long time that you weren't writing to tell me to stop writing to you.

I held the envelope to my forehead as I prayed. I inhaled and smelt that familiar scent of you. The scent I've lusted for…for what seems life forever.

Just as I was about to open your letter, my name was called again. The sergeant handed me a stack of letters…all from you. There was thirty letters.

I read each and every one of them without stopping. My heart was soaring. I could feel love and devotionpouring off the pages.

Oh…how I love you. I miss you more than I can say. I promise I will come home to you and make up for all the time I've wasted. I will spend the rest of my days showering you with all the love I have to give.

Remember I love you, always.

There were sixty letters. One dated each day for two months. My father wrote to my mother everyday.

I sat reading each letter. They were so beautiful. Love oozed from the words on those pages. My mom must've felt the same way. Each letter was tear-stained

The last letter was dated May 20, 1995.

My Dearest Love,

Our orders came in today. My heart is breaking to have to tell you that this will be the last letter I'm allowed to write to you.

Know that I will be thinking about you every day. I'll do my best to come home to you as soon as I can. I hope the next letter you get; I will be delivering it to you, myself.

Someone once said, "Seduce my mind and you can have my body, find my soul and I'm yours forever." You have me mind, body, sole and heart…forever. That is my promise to you.

I love you more than I can say. I miss you.

Remember I love you always.

My heart was breaking. I could only imagine how much they missed each other. They were so in love. They loved each other until they day they died. Those at the scene told me they died in each other's arms. My father hovered over my mom, trying to protect her.

By the time I was finished reading the letters, I had tears streaming down my face.

Was I crying because I missed them so much? Or, was I crying because of the joy and happiness they brought to each other and me? I think it was a little of both.

I folded the letter, rewrapped them, carefully placed them back in the box and walked out of the attic.

My next stop was somewhere else I hadn't been in years.

I drove up the narrow little gravel road. I pulled my car on the side of the road and sat for a while.

I finally got out of the car. I made my way through the graves until I found my parents grave. I sat between the two of them.

"Hey, you two. It's been a while. I'm sorry I don't come here as often as I did. It's hard. I miss you both so much.

Jim Lawson called me. He's been pressuring me to sell our home.

I went there today for the first time since you two died. Everything was just as it always was before. I…umm…went to clear your things out of the house. I had decided to sell.

Then I found some letters. The letters you wrote to Mom. Dad, they were beautiful. It was so obvious how much you loved Mom. I only hope that I'll be lucky enough to find the kind of love you two had.

Sitting there in the attic, looking at your things reminded me how much love and good times we shared in that house.

Mom, do you remember when I jumped out my bedroom window into the pool? You wanted to scream at me…but you couldn't because you were laughing so hard.

Dad, do you remember when we made dinner for Mom for her birthday? You let me make the cake. It looked more like a pancake. But, Mom, you ate it anyway and told me how good it was."

I sat there for three hours talking to my mom and dad. Although, I would always miss them, I knew it was ok to stop grieving. I imagine my parents with their arms around each other smiling down at me from heaven.

It was starting to get dark I had to go. I place my fingers on my lips then on each one of their graves, before I stood to leave, promising them I would come again…soon.

As I was leaving the cemetery, I flipped my phone open to make a call. "Mr. Lawson, this is Amelia Manoso, I've decided the house isn't for sale."