Resting Scrooge Face

by Meghan Quinn

I’ve never told anyone this, but every year since I was seven, I’ve picked a flower from my mom’s garden, pressed it, preserved it, and labeled it with the year I collected it. I have a whole book dedicated to the flowers. When my mom turns sixty, I’m going to give it to her.

that’s so precious

“Nola, you are truly the best part of my life. I have the best memories from when we were together. I had the best laughs with you by my side. And even when we went through some hard times, knowing I had you to lean on took away some of the pain. When I lost you, I lost a part of myself along the way. But you’re here now, and slowly, you helped bring that part back to life with your letters.” I link our fingers together, hers in gloves, mine not. “I’m so sorry for the past, for treating you the way that I did. And I promise you, if you give me another chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

“Even during our time apart, even when our hearts were both shattered, it’s always been you. Always and forever.”

“I wondered if it was you,” she whispers. “I wondered if you were the one sending me the letters. Coming here tonight, I had to find out.” “And if it wasn’t me?” I ask. Her nose rubs against mine. “Then I would have gone to find you.”

This is my girl. The one I’ve been waiting for. And sure, it might have taken a few years and some letters delivered by a friend, but we’re here, in each other’s arms, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.