A Letter Concerning Malikhi (tag DH Skies) It was only a few days after the funeral of her husband, that Alice Hill realised that she should probably inform her son's teachers about the events of his Christmas break. She swallowed thickly. It hadn't been an uncommon occurence in the past for her to have to liaise with Malikhi's teachers but that had been over some kind of prank he'd pulled or not handing in his homework. She had never had to and had never dreamed that one day, she would've had to discuss an issue so grave and serious. She sniffed and rubbed at her eyes, which were sore and red-rimmed for the tears that had constantly fallen from them. It was better to just get this over with.
She made her way over to the small desk that took up a corner of her sister's living room. It was both tidy and immaculate, not a single mark or stain on the polished wood, indicating that it was only really there for show. Alice knew that her sister Delilah wasn't much of a writer and, for a moment, she wondered if her sister even had the appropriate materials needed. A brief search of the drawers yielded parchment, an envelope and a quill with ink.
She sank heavily onto the desk chair with a deep sigh. Where was she even to begin? How did you put into written words, the tragedy that had struck her family? How did you describe that your only son, known for his sunshine smile and his bright, cheeky eyes, was now lost within himself and had spent all of his break shut in his room, crying? How could she admit that she had no idea what to do and that the only person who could've helped her in this situation, was the very person who no longer walked the earth?
She sniffed again and, with a trembling hand, reached for the quill.
Dear Deputy Headmistress Skies,
My name is Alice Hill and I have a son, Malikhi, who started attending Sonora this year and was sorted into Pecari. I wish I was writing this letter under better circumstances. I feel it is my duty to inform you as to the tragedy that has befallen us over the Christmas holidays. There is no easy way for me to write this.
Malikhi's father, my husband, was killed in a car accident when bringing Malikhi home from Sonora. Malikhi was in the car but mercifully, his injuries were mostly superficial and he has suffered no permanent physical damage. However, as you can surely understand, this has had a massive impact on his emotions and I am concerned as to how this will continue to impact both his welfare and his education upon his return to Sonora. Is there anything that can or should be done to make it easier? Malikhi has never experienced this kind of tragedy and I am unsure as to how he will continue to react or cope with it.
I would appreciate any thoughts or help you can give.
Sincerely,
Alice Hill
It was only when reaching the end of the letter that Alice realised that she was crying, having never written the fact that her husband was dead before. It made it so real. It confirmed that it was something that couldn't be changed. The only man that she had ever loved was gone and he was never coming back.
A small sob left her mouth and she pressed a hand to her mouth, closing her eyes. She just had to hold off a few more moments in order to send the letter.
Lips trembling and hands still shaking, Alice folded and slipped the letter into the envelope and sealed it. She wrote its destination on the face before taking it to the entry hall, where Delilah's small black owl hooted softly at her. She gave the bird the letter before opening the front doors to let it fly free. As she watched the creature soar into the skies, she allowed more tears to fall. If only an owl could carry away these awful, terrible feelings of heartbreak from both herself and her son.