risuta Avatar
A general fiction story by

risuta

Submitted Sep 29, 2016, 10:40:37 AM

An unsent letter

Hi,

It finally occurs to me that all of these feelings I've sentimentally clutched onto are no longer relevant—as if they were non-existent at the first place, as if all the fragments of the moments we were together that I had cherished and stored at the back of my brain escaped through the cracks of my fingers.

I don't remember how it all started but I know how it all ended. Or maybe I have predicted it in the first place. Because you were too good for me. Or because I was and am just never enough for anyone's company.

We met in one fine afternoon and I remember every particular detail of it: the bookstore aisles, your deadpan humor, the laughs between talk—everything under the rain in April. How in your words I found the flickering lights when the light's off. How your smiles became the blanket I sought in the dreary cold night when my folks didn't come knocking on my door and kiss me goodnight.

Time marched on. Months flew by. You were still running, sometimes pacing, but always alone like you always would, while I stood there, searchingly, quietly, waiting if there's any chance that somehow our fates could intersect. But they didn't. And they won't. I thought you're the home, but there was and never will be enough room for me.

November was unyielding, unrivaled. I asked why but it beckoned me to leave instead and slammed the front door shut. I waved goodbye and ran with head held up.

December was rough. I was cut adrift, nonchalantly leaning against the wall. The silence I had enveloped myself in was deafening. The sun went down & darkness fell, but I lost my track of time. I even needed to question myself every time I woke up, just to make sure that I was there, and all of this was real, so that I didn't need to desperately reach out for a bottle of aspirin for consolation.

I stopped for a break en route while life undressed me, leaving me with lies in January. After the dawn, I came to my senses. That I lost a part of me. Of the gravitational force that pulled me gently towards the ground. Of the chuckles that turned the world upside down. When the tears welled up, I did close my eyes, bitterly and tightly and in every vain attempt to show that February hasn't done me wrong.

It's been a year that you voluntarily walked out of my life, and life still puts me in unease every now and then after you leave me with the unseen bruises, the naivety, the sugarcoated words and promises. It does take time, but I've been wanting to tell you that I have accepted it. I have stopped taking aspirin. I have embraced my vulnerability. And I have been teaching myself so that the next time I fall, I'll make sure to hit the bottom quick, leaving less shards under my skin to be removed.

Regards,
Your, once, second best.

Comments

phillips_brian Avatar

phillips_brian

Commented Sep 29, 2016, 8:54:32 PM
Interesting writing, but I'm not sure what it is. It seems to be some level of year-long despair, but I'm not sure. There are phrases, such as "I used to reminisce that afternoon.", that I have no idea what they are telling me. I think this work could be vastly improved with a revision. As it is right now, it is interesting, but I don't know what it is.
risuta Avatar

risuta

Commented Oct 1, 2016, 12:13:12 AM
Hi, thank you for the feedback. I really appreciate it. Hope this revision can give a clearer image of what I want to deliver :)
phillips_brian Avatar

phillips_brian

Commented Oct 4, 2016, 4:05:48 AM
I like the revision. Nice job!
kt6550 Avatar

kt6550

Commented Nov 9, 2016, 10:05:04 PM
Evidently I am reading the revision. I like this. A bit somber, but well written.
risuta Avatar

risuta

Commented Nov 13, 2016, 2:33:01 PM
Hi! Glad you like it. Thank you for your kind comment. :)
Nurwanti Avatar

Nurwanti

Commented Dec 7, 2016, 11:23:08 AM
@risuta perhaps you could add more section in the opening so that readers feel more curious about what you want to say.
But over all, I like this one...so highly structured.
The best part is:
Your, once, second best.
Hit it! :D
risuta Avatar

risuta

Commented Dec 8, 2016, 5:12:39 AM
To be honest, this writing was made from several tweets I posted in my Twitter account. I didn't change it that much because I thought it is better if I left it that way. But let's see if I can improve the introduction. Thanks anyway. I'm glad you like it.