Chocolate Covered Strawberries [Remus Lupin]

𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚢-𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

Chapter ninety-seven; Mum

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An open letter was sitting on the counter in the kitchens in front of Jasmine. She read it all of three times since she got it in the morning and it didn't leave her mind so she kept it close to her for the whole day. Now in the evening, after the curfew, in her own confined space in the kitchens, she was finally able to think with a clear head. She stared at the written words with a mug of hot cocoa in her hands and bit her lip while her thoughts were all a big jumble. Her eyes skimmed over the lines again.

Hi sweetie!

Only Jasmine's mum was calling her sweetie and it made her heart swell at the thought of hearing her voice saying that simple word to her.

I figured that by now you already know everything that happened. And let me start off by deeply apologising to you, I know it isn't best to do so through a letter but I can't stand sitting still anymore and thinking that so many things are left unspoken between us. It only occurred to me now that I am away from your father, away from you, how bad everything was and how many things could have been different if I had only taken some heavy measures.

Jasmine frowned at the first paragraph. She had no idea why her mum was apologising because apart from that fight they had at the end of summer, her mum did nothing wrong. Both of them were too similar to each other, both in looks and thoughts, as Jasmine thought exactly the same. She could have stopped so much abuse if she would have seen it earlier.

But as I've always told you the past is in the past and there's nothing we can do to change it. I am still though most sorry for how we left things off at the end of summer. I was never forceful towards you, I never yelled at you so it was strange for me too and I regret it the second I closed the door on you. But considering what came out of it I had to do it, not just for you, for both of us.

I want you to know that I am safe, for the sake of this letter being tracked I can't tell you where I am, but if we still hold that string of trust between us, you will believe my word. It took me some time and I received all the help I needed to ensure my own safety. Being selfish like this makes my stomach churn with the thought of being a bad mum. I left while you're still there at your father's hand reach, but don't worry I thought all about it.

Remember the key I gave you that belongs to your vault with the savings your father has gathered over the years? Well, David still doesn't know about that, I destroyed the other copy so yours is the only one that exists. Don't lose it and don't tell your dad about it either. Now as far as holidays go, you will stay with the Fawleys. Your father trusts them and it won't look any suspicious to him at all considering the engagement he still believes is on.

Talisa told me everything. About the illegal dealings, the ministry and the debt and I also heard about Gabriel. The plan of acting as David wants you to is dangerous but I know it's the best one we've got if we want both you and Gabriel out of this mess your father has cooked. You do not deserve a life bound to someone, not of your choosing, no matter if you were already friendly towards each other. Maybe in another life, you two could be happy and would get together at your own time, but the moment someone wants to force something on you it becomes almost like a task to do and it's not real love anymore.

You don't deserve that, especially not if you already feel something for someone else.

Jasmine wrinkled her forehead at that line. Does her mum know?

We've lost the ability to communicate with each other, sweetie. I feel like there is so much we don't know about each other and it's my fault. I never wrote letters to you because of fear that David would read them. I was scared even when I was at home no matter if you were there or not, that's why I have been working so much. To get away from him. On the off chance when we did have a chance to talk, we discussed light things or I read stories to you because neither of us wanted to make each other's day even worse with personal problems. Oh, how I wish you were here with me right now and we would take multiple days just to talk, mother to daughter.