Hello, it's me ((Tag Michael Grosvenor)) Eris Ackart crumpled up yet another sheet of parchment and tossed it absent mindedly in the direction of the bin. Hunched over her desk, and an empty sheet of paper, she rested her forehead in her palm and sighed. Over the past ten years, she'd attempted this letter a dozens of times, but could never seem to make it past the first sentence or two. It was hard to put everything that had happened into words without ripping open old scars.
She needed to though. She owed him an explanation, and more importantly, an apology. Eris didn't know if it would matter, for all she knew he could have forgotten about her completely. The thought of it twisted the dagger that was already in her stomach. She couldn't blame him though, she'd been the one who left after all.
For all Eris knew, Michael Grosvenor could be married with two kids, a dog, and a white picket fence. In fact, she kind of wished that for him...happiness anyway. She'd considered that her letter could have a negative outcome, but she needed the closure. It was all part of the healing process, or so the therapist said.
She opened and closed her right hand, trying to shake the stiffness from her fingers before reclaiming her quill. Eris drew a deep, shaky breath and glanced at the picture at the corner of her desk. It was from her third year, and the fancy dress party she and Michael attended together. A sad smile crossed her lips as she allowed herself to remember that night.
“I'm not leaving you.” She'd said to him, and in the end, she'd done exactly that.
Eris shook her head and turned her attention to her letter. Her hand shook slightly as she pressed her quill to the paper and began to write.
It took three hours, seven tissues, two cups of tea, and a dozen strolls down memory lane, but she finally finished. Surprisingly, she didn't feel as relieved as she'd hoped. Probably because she still needed to send it, but also because now it was her turn to wait and Eris had never been good with suspense. Her dark eyes scanned the parchment one last time, just to make sure it was ready to go.
Dear Michael, I know it's been ages, and I'm likely the last person you'd expect to hear from, but here I am. I owe you an explanation and an apology, and while I could write it all out, I'd like to see you in person. I understand that our lives are vastly different from when we parted, and if you don't wish to meet, I won't blame you. It can be a date, or not a date, but I hope you'll consider either way. I truly hope this finds you well, and think of you often. I anxiously await your reply.
Yours, Eris
It was short, and omitted all of the terrible details of the past few years, but she was hopeful that he'd be willing to see her and hear her out. She had no expectations of a reunion where they'd realize they were meant for eachother and pick up where they'd left off. Michael had been the first boy Eris had ever loved though, so somewhere in her ever hopeless romantic heart, was hope that they could at least be friends.
Her owl Hermes hooted lazily from the top of the cupboard as she approached him. He hopped gently on to her arm and pecked at her hand until she relinquished the letter. She obliged, and set the small tawny owl on the sill of the open window.
“Find Michael....” She said as the owl took flight. Eris stood at the window, watching until Hermes very quickly became a small blip on the horizon. “And hurry back.”