221b Baker Street

London NW1 6XE

5 August, 201-

Dear Sherlock,

I'm glad that you have finally seen that there is a good reason and purpose for you being in rehab. As they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder".

You will never get me to admit that there is any truth behind Bill Murray's tales, so take from that what you may. How does one take care of their partner?! Do you not know? I imagine it would be quite easy for you, given that you are so very good at reading people. It really just requires you to be attuned to your lover and aware of their little signs and you simply adjust your ministrations accordingly. I try to make sure that my partner is completely satisfied before I seek my own pleasure—that's really what it comes down to in the end. Foreplay is great for this reason alone, that and the fact that it prolongs the experience. I cannot believe we are having this conversation!

Your reframing of my definitions on religion and spirituality would be accurate—though I won't go as far to call people who practice religion 'blind masses of sheep', that's a bit harsh. I think that religion or spirituality is a very personal thing that is not easily explained. It does greatly shape who someone is as a person though. You have expressed your feelings on there being no coincidences before… I find that interesting in light of your thoughts on a higher power. So, you don't believe in divine providence, but do feel that things happen for a reason… I'm curious to know what your thoughts are on soulmates; do you believe that such a thing is possible?

I understand that you've been much more candid than usual in your letters. I appreciate your openness; what makes this form of communication easier for you than talking to me? I know you've always struggled expressing anything remotely resembling sentiment...

A dream about me? I'm flattered. What was it about? I hope it was something interesting and not us sitting about the flat or the morgue like you dreamed the one time. I would certainly not want to star in a vision where we're performing an autopsy. Though knowing you, that would be something you'd enjoy thinking about.

You're deflecting—you never answered my question about what you mean regarding your statement 'what if I want it to affect our friendship?'? Please, I need you to give me an answer. Are you saying that you want to take our relationship in a different direction, change the nature of it? While I am willing to make deductions on a great number of things, this is one area I refuse to do so because coming to the wrong conclusion could be disastrous for both of us.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

John

{o0o}

Rue de la Pise

F-06360 Eze Village

France

14 August, 201-

Dear John,

I do finally see that there is a purpose for me being here and I have understood that for quite some time now. Absence makes one miserable and miss that easy companionship; the fondness was preexisting.

John, you ask if I do not know about taking care of one's partner—think. I have already expressed that I do not like the physical touch of most people, this is the biggest clue to you question. I will have to test your theory on my ability to reading people and apply it to this particular setting. It does not surprise me to learn that you satisfy your lovers before taking your own pleasure—again, that is how you are with most things in your life. I do notice how you attend to my needs at home before you seek your own comfort. I want you to know that I see this, and I know that I have to do better in this regard for you and not be as selfish as I have been in the past.

I suppose you're right, religion and/or spirituality is a personal experience and despite my research on the matter, I fear that I must leave the subject be as it seems I cannot get any further than what I've learned already. There is no proof of a higher power, but I have had some things happen that I am at a loss to explain. This is not enough to sway my opinion on the issue. Are you referring to soulmates in the romantic sense? I do believe that there might be something to idea, that two people can be uncommonly compatible with one another. My mother and father seem to have a deeper connection that most couples, what characteristics he lacks my mother makes up for and vice versa. If you ask them, they will both tell you they are soulmates. I will say that the more I reflect on this, the more plausible it seems. What are your thoughts?

There are several errors in your last assessment on this matter. I'm not entirely uncomfortable expressing certain things—I've disclosed countless utterances of sentimentality to you. It's hardly any fault of my own if you chose to ignore them. But back to matter in question: I find it easier to express certain things without having to clarify myself in the next breath. This affords me additional time to think and process my words as this is entirely new to me and I am not entirely comfortable divulging my innermost thoughts in such a fashion. I trust that you understand that this is, on some level, difficult for me. I am trying my best to move beyond my comfort zone in this for your sake and for the continued well-being of our partnership. I am extremely out of my depth here and am admittedly feeling quite vulnerable discussing this.

And you should be flattered, I've never thought about another person as I do you. As to the content of the dream… it was rather intimate in nature. Remember our out night at the club and then imagine what would have happened had we continued along that same vein… what I'm sure no less than a dozen other couples on that dance floor left with one another went home to engage in that evening.

This is somewhat exasperating. I don't want to lose what we have, but there are times I wonder what would happen if we changed the nature of our relationship. I find myself contemplating certain things about you that are not strictly platonic.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Sherlock