Chapter 4
Here's the final chapter!
April 2, 1990
Dear Mom and Dad,
Henry dumped me. We were just sitting together and he just suddenly "needed space to figure things out" and walked out. I thought I would never feel this pain again. It's like losing you all over again.
-Elizabeth
Dear Tommy,
Today, I realized that I want Elizabeth to be my forever. We were just sitting together, and I realized that if I want forever, I have to propose. Like get down on one knee and ask her hand in marriage. The only problem is that forever is an incomprehensibly long time, and the idea of marriage is terrifying. So I stupidly told her that I "need space" and left her in our apartment. I just freaked out. Now it feels like my heart has a hole. Actually, it feels like my entire heart got ripped out. Elizabeth has all my heart, times infinity.
-Henry
April 3, 1990
Dear Mom and Dad,
I hate him. I hate him with all my heart. I will never fall in love ever again. After you died, I promised that I would never let anyone close enough to hurt me again. I broke that promise when I met Henry, but now it's clear: Love is just heaven's version of torture.
-Elizabeth
Dear Tommy,
I really messed up. I think Elizabeth thinks that I dumped her. God, these have to be the worst days of my life. I can't think without her, let alone breathe. I need to think of something and fast before I lose her for good. I want this proposal to be perfect.
-Henry
April 4, 1990
Dear Mom and Dad,
Henry called. He wants to talk to me. I'm torn. On one hand, that idiot broke my heart. On the other hand, the last two years have been wonderful. The past few days have been the worst of my life, but can I let that overshadow everything else? Should I give him another chance?
I wish you were here to tell me what to do.
-Elizabeth
Dear Tommy,
I called Elizabeth. She didn't pick up, but I left her a voicemail. I hope she'll give me a second chance. I even hired a skywriter (They gave me a discount because I'm so desperate). I'm really nervous. It's been the three worst days of my life, so I need her to say yes. I need her to take me back for forever. Help me out, gaurdian angel?
-Henry
P.S.- I hope she likes the ring. I got it a week after we moved in together. It just seems so "her," you know?
April 4, 1990
Dear Mom and Dad,
Wow, writing twice in one day! Much has changed since this morning. First of all, I'm engaged! Henry spilled everything to me. He told me that he was just really nervous about making us official official, and then he took me out to the park. He hired a skywriter, but at a huge discount. Instead of writing, "Marry me Elizabeth" it said "Mar me Elibet." And then he got down on one knee and proposed!
Love,
Elizabeth
Dear Tommy,
The skywriter worked. Sort of. I basically babbled an apology and told her that I just needed time to freak out because marriage is a huge commitment and I was afraid that she didn't want that kind of forever. Luckily, she seemed to get it, and she forgave me quickly. I took her to the park to see the skywriter, but it said, "Mar me Elibet," and I don't think I've regretted getting something at a discount more in my life. After that, I got down on one knee and asked her to be my wife. She said yes.
Love,
Henry
July 18, 1990
Dear Mom and Dad,
Today Henry and I got married. I can't wait to spend forever with my soulmate and best friend. His deployment is approaching quickly, and I'm terrified. I think Henry's faith is rubbing off of me, though, because I believe he will make it. When he comes home, I can't wait to start our life together, and maybe even a family...
Today has been one of the happiest days of my life. I only wish you could have been there to walk me down the aisle.
Bye for now,
Elizabeth
Dear Tommy,
Today, I married the most wonderful human on the planet. I can't wait to start our life together. I'm going to be deployed soon, but once I get back we're just going to enjoy being a married couple. And maybe a few years from now we'll have kids…
I missed you today. I would have made you my best man.
Bye for now,
Henry
September 21, 2014
Dear Mom and Dad,
Today has been crazy! Conrad literally drove to my house (secret service and all) to ask me to be the Secretary of State. He basically told me that I don't have a choice. I really want to try it, but I'm worried about the kids. Henry seems to be on board, but we have yet to hold a family meeting. At first I was worried that it would be a repeat of Baghdad, but-
"Whom are you writing to?" Henry asked when he walked in the room.
Elizabeth hastily folded the paper up and said rather unconvincingly, "No one."
"C'mon, babe," Henry said with a grin. "Who's your secret crush?" He tickled her ribs and pretended to grab at the letter. Elizabeth stood up abruptly, clutching the letter to her chest.
"Stop it! It's not funny, Henry," Elizabeth shouted.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm sorry," he said and put his hands up. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, it's just I… I overreacted. I'm sorry." She sighed and loosened her grip on the now crumpled paper. "It's a letter to my parents. I know they're dead, but it helps to write, even if they're gone. You know?"
"You write to your parents?" He repeated softly.
"It's stupid, I know-"
"No, babe. It's not," he said in a reassuring tone. "In fact, I still write letters to Tommy. I mean, I stopped for the most part after we got married, but I still update him on the important stuff."
"Really?" Elizabeth asked, a tentative smile on her face.
"Really." Henry returned her smile. "I wrote about you a lot." He paused for a moment, and then asked shyly, "Can I read some to you?"
"I'd like that. Very much."
I'm not happy with this. I kind of lost interest in this story, but having unfinished stories stresses me out so I hope this ending is okay.