I was back at my house's doorstep, a million thoughts in my head. From the corner of my eye, I saw a man walk towards my direction.

"Miss Burr?" I heard him say.

I turned to him and saw him carefully. He was rummaging through a bag that hung at his side. A messenger.

"Yes?" I asked, expectant.

"I have a note for you. It was requested to be given to you directly," he said, as he pulled out a small envelope and handed it to me.

I took the envelope and examined it. Nothing was written on it that I could see. Shock overwhelmed me, although I was too conscious of the fact that I should not get ahead of myself.

I opened my mouth to ask something, anything. However, before I could, the man spoke:

"It's from the late Mr. Hamilton," he said pitifully.

"Oh," was all I could manage to say. "Thank you. Thank you very much."

The man bowed and left silently, at a quick pace. I checked behind my back and took a look at the windows of the house, to make sure nobody had seen us. The coast was clear.

I hid the envelope in my pocket and hurried up the stairs, towards the safety of my room.

There, I sat at the edge of my bed and saw it one more time. I took a deep breath. This was the very last of Philip.

I opened the envelope and pulled out a small piece of paper that was inside it. As I did so, something else came with it and fell to the ground.

I looked down, to where it fell. It was a single aster.

I held it in my hands and sobbed once more. The image of him underneath the moonlight, surrounded by a garden full of flowers and a dazzling ball taking place behind us came into my mind.

I yearned for that memory. The aster, small and delicate, remained perfectly still, being held by my hand. A perfect pop of lavender in the middle of so much darkness.

With my other hand, as shaky as it was, I unfolded the piece of paper. My vision was blurred by the tears that accumulated in my eyes, still, I squinted until I could find letters in each of his traces. I began to read.

Dear Theodosia,

Because you love asters, and I lack the words to express how I feel the same for you.