My Dearest Heart

To: My Dearest Heart From: Johanna -The letter is written on heavy parchment, usually reserved for special occasions and announcements, with embossed flowers in the top corner. The scrip is elegant, flowing cursive written by a dainty hand-

My dearest heart, No amount of words can express to you the extent of all that I wish to say. Years have dragged on for us, so many nights that weigh heavily upon both our hearts, but none of which I hold against you. I cannot begin to understand the hardship that has tormented you so, you have sacrificed so much to protect me and our children, I fear I will never be able to repay to you all that you have lost for our sake. But... I wish to. I still find it hard to believe that everything is over, that you can finally stay home, that we can be a family. I never spoke of this to you, but there are still nights in which I wake up and startle myself to find that you are right there beside me. It feels as if I'm in a dream. I have waited so long for this... for you... that the reality has yet to set in. To finally have you here with me, to finally let go of this secret we've held for so long. No more long nights dying to be wherever you are. Never to worry that I will one morning wake up and see your spirit in the threshold. If that had ever happened.... -the script shakily breaks off, suspicious water spots staining the paper right below it. A few lines down the letter starts up again- I cannot begin to repay you for all that you have done to protect us, to protect me, but I promise that you will never have want for anything ever again. I know how you are, strong and reserved and so very very scarred, but please... let me help you. I know I cannot offer much, but I give you all of me. Just like we promised to each other that night all those years ago. I am yours, and you are mine. I wish to hold on to you and never let go for fear you will disappear like a shadow in the night. I promise that I will never leave your side, that we will make up for all those years of lost time. My dearest Armin, despite all that you have suffered, how you feel as if you deserve nothing from me, know that I love you to the very depths of my soul. Every part of you, the dark and the light. I always have. And I always will. So please, rest easy and know that nothing will change for either of us.

With all my love, Johanna