I hope it's not too late...
by AJ

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story nor am I in any ways affiliated to Clamp *sigh*. Remember, this is just my mind speaking out loud. ^.^


"Oh I SO hate cleaning up!" mumbled Sakura to herself, as she opened one of the drawers of her desk, "I don't like getting rid of my things..."

The sixteen-year-old girl sighed, then sat on the floor. She started looking at everything she had kept for the last year, at least. School papers, sketches, notes, an invitation to Tomoyo's sweet sixteen, a picture...

- It's Syaoran, me and Tomoyo, she thought, gazing at the three kids in navy blue uniforms. The girls were giggling, as always, while a shy half-smile played on the lips of the boy.

"I wish everything could still be the same between us," she said, focusing her view on Syaoran.

Ever since he had come back, for reasons never specified yet clear to those aware of his history with the lovely green eyed girl, Sakura's heart had been drowning in an ocean of emotions she could no longer stand. He wouldn't talk to her, he wouldn't even look her in the eyes. And she knew why.

Sakura noticed a folded green sheet of paper in the back of the drawer and reached for it. She left the picture by her side, took the paper and unfolded it.

She remembered it right away. It was a letter. A confession she had written when she was eleven years old, right after the book of Sakura had been finally sealed and Syaoran had gone back to Hong Kong.

It read:

"There are lots of stars in the sky tonight. But they must be shining to somebody else, not me. Because there's a lot of pain in my heart right now... When I was younger, Onii-san used to say that, if I wished hard on a star, and remained peaceful, the hurt would go away. It doesn't seem to be working this time.

I'm holding the bear you gave me. The bear I named Syaoran, so that I would remember you every time I looked at it. But then again, I don't need anything to remember you... Because it's like you never left me. You're still so present, so warm and comforting to my eyes, even though I cannot see you...

I haven't been myself lately, and I just can't help it. I won't lie to you; I've tried putting these feelings aside, but they keep coming back, and I just couldn't bear to pay myself no mind whenever I thought that you were wrong for me.

I'm writing you because there's something I never told you, and that I think you should know... I never gathered enough courage to say this personally, and believe me, I hate myself for that now. I hate myself because this is not the best way to confess something this important (through a letter, I mean), and also because I know you'll be sad. I know you'll be sad and angry at me for not letting it all out while you still could make your dream come true. I'm sorry.

Aishiteru.

I mean it. It took me quite a while to figure that out. You know, I'm never really aware of what's going on with people around me, and I haven't finished learning how to deal with myself either. But, if it makes you feel any better, I never doubted the feelings I have for you. Ever. I've always been sure that they were real.

So, I guess that by now a lot of things must have been clarified. I hope to see you again soon. I really want us to talk this over, and see where we can go from here. All I ask of you now is, please, don't be mad at me for not letting you know sooner. Like I said before, it's killing me inside, and I've learned from my mistake:
When you love someone, you should let them know; if you don't, you may lose them forever.

Truly yours,
Sakura."

She shed a tear. Having no second thoughts, she put the letter in her backpack, along with the photograph. Sakura had been in denial for too long. She had finally won another chance, and she wasn't willing to miss it.

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