Love letters that reveal secrets

Love Letters That Reveal Secrets

I always thought moving into a new apartment would feel like a fresh start. A chance to leave behind old memories, old mistakes, and the kind of heartbreak that makes you wanna disappear for awhile.

As I stood in the middle of my tiny and dark living room, surrounded by boxes, old scratched up wallpaper, and the smell of old basement and dust filled the air.

It did not feel like a new beginning, more like temporary shelter. The type of place you go to when you have no other options.

I let out a sigh while I was brushing my hair out of my face. I grabbed a box labeled “bedroom stuff” as I picked it up my fingertips brushed against the cold, uneven floorboards. As I dragged it towards the hallway, I felt a loose floorboard by the far corner in the bedroom.

I knelt curious as to why it was loose. I pressed my fingers against the edge, and it shifted, revealing a small gap just big enough to fit something inside. A hiding place.

My heart felt empty for a second

Inside was bundles of cornflowers, crumbled up papers tied together with red ribbon that has faded. I pulled the ribbon, and the papers unraveled, giving off an old ink, and something sweet like smell. There were dozens of letters each one addressed to a Dove Summer in fancy handwriting.

The name ment nothing to me as of this moment.

I laid down the bundle and noticed something beneath it, a small leather journal. The cover was cracked, and the leather was all worn out, and the initials L.A. were pressed into the corner with gold. I hesitated, I felt this heaviness in my heart, this was somebody’s story. And i’m holding it in my hands.

I opened it.

October 9th, 1964

They told me not to see him again. That it was dangerous, that it would ruin everything. But how do you stay away from the only person who makes you feel alive?

I sat back, my pulse getting faster, who ever L.A. was she was in love. Desperately, recklessly in love. And something about how she chose to word it seems like a warning.

I did not know it yet but tonight will be the first night Dove Summer knocks on my door.

And the night i figure out this is not going to be a quite fresh start like I had hoped.

A loud knock at the door startled me the journal slipped out my hands and onto the cold floor.

For a second, I just looked at the door trying to process what I had just read, also thinking about why i’m hearing a knock at my door when it’s past midnight?

I stood up slowly and brushed my hands against my leggings getting the dust off and went to the door. My fingers gripping the doorknob before I finally opened it. A man stood there, tall, and muscular, with dark long hair that was held together in a bun. He had a plain white tee on with light washed jeans on, with the dim lights he looks like someone out of an old photograph.

It was not just his face that caught me, it was his eyes, this deep blue with a hint of grey like a stormy beach.

“I…uh, sorry” he said with his voice low and a little bit rough like he had not spoken in awhile. “Didn’t mean to bother you I just seen your light was still on, so I figured i’d introduce myself i’m Dove.”

He held his hand out like we knew each other, like we did not just meet and are complete strangers living in a world where nobody spoke to their neighbors anymore. For a moment I just looked at his hand until I got myself to take it.

“Tara” I said.

His grip was warm and firm not something you would expect from someone who looks like they carry ghost with them.

“You just move in?” He asked glancing past me into the cluttered room.

“Yeah, this morning.” I smiled but he knew it was forced. “Still unpacking.”

He shook his head, his eyes finding their way to the pile filled with the letters and the journal on the floor. His expression changed he seemed shocked, was it recognition? I could not tell.

“You, okay?” he asked while his brow twitched.

I hesitated, was I okay?? Probably not but telling the tall, blue eyed mysterious neighbor about the secret love letters I just found under my floorboards seemed like a fast way to be the crazy neighbor.

“Yeah.” I said, clearing my throat. “Just settling in…”

He gave a small almost sad smile, then took a step back. “Alright well if you need anything i’m just next door.”

I watched him as he disappeared off into the dark street, the sound of his door closing behind him softly.

For awhile I stood there holding the nob feeling the air feel heavier. Like the apartment was taking a big breath and holding it in.

I turned back to the journal on the floor, its cracked leather glistening in the faint light.

L.A. and Dove. Something about the way his eyes were guided right to the letters and journal, something about the timing.

I normally did not believe in coincidences.