Chapter 3: Letting go isn't as easy as it sounds

There are letters in it. One letter has Alexis name on it. The rest is bounded with red ribbon and has a card. A card with my name on it.

I let my body fall on the soft arm chair before I get the letters. I carefully get out the first letter and open it.

I love you.

More than you know.

I want you to take the next letter and do as I say.

Oh and I'm sorry for dieing before you.

That's all. With those last words the letter ends.

I laugh. I laugh my heart out. My heart which suddenly is filled with an unbelievable amount of sorrow. Sorrow which tears it apart. The heart which still belongs to him.

"What?" Sharpay asks me confused.

I hand her the letter and she reads it. Then she grins. "Typicall for him."

I get out the second letter out of the ribbon. On the envelope he has written "Manhattan" in dark curly letters. It's his handwriting. His beautifull handwriting.

I carefully get out the letter. With it there is a picture of us. A picture which shows the whole family. It was taken on the day we told them that I was pregnant. A day after our honeymoon has ended.

Flashback

"Are you ready to tell them?" he asks me as he wipes a strand of hair out of my face.

I nodd as I lace my fingers with his. We're standing in the kitchen, waiting for the Boltons/Sloanes/Greys to arrive. I'm wearing a dark blue silk dress from Dior with a classic v-cut in the front and back. It's the only dress which fits my 31 weeks pregnant body. I already have a huge baby bump.

"Troy, Gabriella, where are you?" I hear Sharpay asking in a loud voice.

"Kitchen!" we yell back at the same time.

I hear Meredith and Mark talking as the group walks over to the kitchen.

"Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton." Adam says grinning as they reach the kitchen.

"It's good to see you all again." I say smiling, standing behind the island to hide my bump.

"So, what's the reason we have to come?" Kelsi asks us.

"I only have a short window of time." Mark says.

"The reason you are here is..."

"I am pregnant." I finish Troy sentence and walk over to them.

Adam's and Kelsi's chin falls down right away.

Sharpay grins at me and rolls her eyes, "You are huge, Gabs." she says hugging me.

"But you... you just got home from your honeymoon." Adam says shocked. "That means -"

"that I was pregnant a whole lot of time before the wedding, yes."

Meredith eyes sparkle - so does William's.

"Oh congratulations!" the Grey woman says hugging me before she walks over to Troy. "Congrats Troy. I'm happy for both of you." she says before she hugs her adoptive son. Suddenly her beeper starts beeping. She sighs, "I have to go."

William pulls me into a long hug, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." I say, knowing exactly what he meant. His dream to become a grandfather.

"Just please tell me it's a girl!" Kelsi says, hugging me next. "Gosh, you're as huge as an elefant! How far are you?"

"31rst week." I say grinning.

"And it is a girl." Troy answers her question.

Kelsi hits him right away, "Why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

He shruggs, "Brothers still have secrets as well."

"But it includes my niece! My freaking niece, whom I already love more than her parents." Kelsi says, playing the drama queen once more.

I chuckle.

"Okay, let's take a picture!" Sharpay announces grinning.

"WHAT?!" Troy and I ask shocked at the same time. We absolutely hate taking pictures.

"It's going to be the first picture of the whole family." Sharpay explains, "You guys just have to smile and that's all. It won't even hurt, I promise." she says grinning as she places the Nikon camera in our direction. Then she presses the autotimer.

Seconds later a flash appears.

End of Flashback

"God, this picture was taken ages ago!" Sharpay says smiling, looking over my shoulder.

"Nearly eighteen years ago." I say smiling. It feels like a lifetime ago. And that's what it is. It was taken in a life, in which I still had him. In a time he was still mine and I was his.

Then I take out the letter.

This is the first of five letters.

I want you to take the next two weeks off. It will take exactly two weeks for you to read all these five letters. To read them, to remember and to let go.

Tomorrow morning I want you to give Taylor the next letter with the words "Malibu" on them. He will know what to do.

As soon as you are in our house in Malibu, I want you to walk into the masterbedroom. You will find a new letter on the nightstand.

Until then, I'm forever yours.

Troy Bolton

Confused I re-read the letter. He wants me to do what?!


A new chapter! I hope you liked it. Please review!

Xoxo Nic