Even after the terrible incident on the bridge, John Klein couldn't get his
departed wife's image
out of his mind. Whenever a phone rang, even if it was a stranger with a
cell phone on the street,
John got an unbearable itching in his hand. He wanted to pick it up and
hear her on the
other end. All he could do was turn to the police for protection. No, not
the entire force, only
Connie. They'd formed a unique friendship ever since he fished her out of
the freezing cold
waters of the Ohio river.
"So you write her a letter." Connie took a sip of her coffee, wincing as
the too-hot drink passed
her lips.
"Connie..." John trailed off, staring into space. She looked at him,
leaving a brief
silence for him to reply. The reply wasn't coming, though, and they both
knew it. He'd held back because what he wanted to say wasn't very kind. He
knew that, after all he'd put her through, Connie needed to be humored.
"You write her a letter saying everything you want to tell her." Her words
opened a wound but
her smile was soothing to John's aching heart.
"If it'll make you happy..." He trailed off with a smirk and shook his
head. The thought of writing
a letter still seemed ridiculous to him but he'd learned a lot about Connie
over the past year. He knew that, even though she could get simple
sometimes, she always had a piece of advice.
"It'll make *you* happy." She patted his shoulder with her free hand, the
other still gingerly holding her coffee.
So he sat down that night with a pencil, several sheets of paper, and a
complete lack of words. He sat there, ignoring phone calls, just so he
could write his letter.
Dear Mary,
I miss you so much. I miss waking up next to your smiling face. I even miss waking up while your still sleeping. You know, you looked like an angel with that trace of a smile on your lips and your eyes closed. When I can't sleep at night I think of how it felt to have your long, curly hair tickle my nose as it spilled over your pillow and onto mine. It helps me relax to think of what it was like to not be alone in bed. I miss you sleeping next to me so much and I never realized until now just how much it helped me. I miss going to the movies with you. It always made me feel like a teenager to have you on my arm as we walked into that place that reeked of stale popcorn and spilled drinks. You never caught me, but I'd look at you more than I'd look the screen. I was convinced that no movie could ever be as fascinating as the look on your face while you were watching one. I miss taking care of you while you were sick. You'd be pale as a ghost, no color in your lips at all, and I'd be afraid for you the whole time. I took good care of you (or at least I think I did,) never letting you go unwatched. I kept my cell phone on at work just in case you needed something. I would get you anything at the drop of a hat. Do you remember those last, precious days when you were in the hospital? You weren't hungry at all, but instead of being force-fed hospital food I brought you take-out from your favorite Chinese place. You only picked at the thirty-dollar dinners but hearing you say 'thank you' made it all worth the effort. I like to think that we were as happy as anyone could possibly be. Someday soon I imagine I'll be halfway back to that state of mind. Your love, John
Dear Mary,
I miss you so much. I miss waking up next to your smiling face. I even miss waking up while your still sleeping. You know, you looked like an angel with that trace of a smile on your lips and your eyes closed. When I can't sleep at night I think of how it felt to have your long, curly hair tickle my nose as it spilled over your pillow and onto mine. It helps me relax to think of what it was like to not be alone in bed. I miss you sleeping next to me so much and I never realized until now just how much it helped me. I miss going to the movies with you. It always made me feel like a teenager to have you on my arm as we walked into that place that reeked of stale popcorn and spilled drinks. You never caught me, but I'd look at you more than I'd look the screen. I was convinced that no movie could ever be as fascinating as the look on your face while you were watching one. I miss taking care of you while you were sick. You'd be pale as a ghost, no color in your lips at all, and I'd be afraid for you the whole time. I took good care of you (or at least I think I did,) never letting you go unwatched. I kept my cell phone on at work just in case you needed something. I would get you anything at the drop of a hat. Do you remember those last, precious days when you were in the hospital? You weren't hungry at all, but instead of being force-fed hospital food I brought you take-out from your favorite Chinese place. You only picked at the thirty-dollar dinners but hearing you say 'thank you' made it all worth the effort. I like to think that we were as happy as anyone could possibly be. Someday soon I imagine I'll be halfway back to that state of mind. Your love, John
