Against All Odds

Letter To Lover

I opened the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.
It was a handwritten paper.

The letter said:

'Miss me?

I know we didn't meet In the perfect place, but I hope these flowers can make it up.
You may not know me, but I know you.

From,
Someone forever yours...

Joe Underwood.'

Words left me as I starred at the paper in my hand. My heart fell silent as if I am stranded underwater, everything was slow and warped. My mind was blank and my eyes wide like all the exhaustion withered away.

I didn't know how to interpret my warped feelings, because my brain was wildly occupied with thousands of queries, from 'how did he know where I live?' To 'is he serious, or is this some kind of lame joke?'.

All the energy I've expended throughout the day is now rejuvenated with this piece of paper.
But I knew that starring at this paper all night won't do any good for me, so I might as well sleep and try to figure things out by tomorrow, well technically it's 'today' since it's passed 3 am.

IN THE NEXT DAY...

'We need to meet at your apartment, ASAP!' The very first thing I did after I woke up, was text Rosie and ask her to meet up at her apartment, that's right next to the School.
She saw Joe yesterday, so maybe there was a chance they both chatted or she somehow, gave him my address- Although everyone knows my address.

I took my car that my dad managed to fix, and drove to Rosie's apartment.

Her apartment was like a wonderland for comic driven recluses. The walls were a deep red that pulsed in the light sprinkled with various posters, mostly of strange Japanese cartoon shows. I doubted she could read whatever was written on the poster. Her comforter was pulled over her bed, even though she hadn't cleaned it. The result was lumps of varying sizes and shapes and the comforter was weighed down by her laptop. A desk sat in one corner, littered with wadded up pieces of paper and pens. A few shelves were pushed against the walls and filled with books. Some books sat on the floor in front of the shelves. Rosie never spends a day without reading a book. I think the load of books she has read counterbalance the number of guys she dated- A lot.

"Hey, what's up?" Rosie said. "You know I don't wake up early to school, so you better not make me regret this! " she exclaimed.

"I know, and I am sorry, but I wanted to ask you something real quick, okay?" I pleaded.

"Fine, quick it is, " she replied with a soft giggle followed after.

"Do you know Joe Underwood? Have you talked to him or anything?" I asked.

"Okay, let's just make this clear Vivian, just because I've dated a lot of guys, doesn't mean you need to wake me the hell up and ask me about them!" She continued, "also, who is this Joe dude again? And what did he do to you?".

"ugh, " I facepalmed myself.

"What?" Rosie asked in bewilderment.

"I take that as a no,  that you don't know Joe, " I said and shortly after, I invited myself to sit on her sofa, and continued to say, "Man! I woke up early and drove all this way for nothing!" I exclaimed.
That was the breaking point of my patience. At that moment, I was blinded by a five-course serving of rage that tasted bitter. Anger
It is the vexing of the soul
Swelling of the veins waiting to explode, It’s like the rushing of blood to the head, saying things, you would rather leave unsaid

Rosie didn't even know I was angry until I tossed my silver Zara bag on the floor. "Why is he doing this to me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, wanting the world to hear it- Joe to hear it.

"Are you okay?" Rosie queried.

She pulled a chair and sat next to me, patted my shoulders, and said, "open up to me, Vivian, tell me what happened?".

"What's that?" I said as my eyes settled at the bruise on her arm.

"What's what?" She asked in confusion.

"The bruise on your arm?" I replied as I pointed at the bruise with my finger.

Rosie glances upward, her mouth pursed but slightly open and loose. Her eyes are fixed as if she's looking at something a yard behind my head. I call her name. She blinks, refocuses. "He did that to you?" I asked.

"W-who?" She stammered then jerked upright, panicked, and then immediately stormed off to the kitchen.

"The guy from the party? The one you were with yesterday?" I yelled so that she can hear me from the kitchen.

Out of complete silence, the cry arose. Out of complete reverence, the things of the world stilled to listen. Like a budding flower it started. Slow and gentle but it rose to a wail that tore at my heart.