Letters to You

My Colby,

How are things going? I know I could text you, but a letter felt more romantic. I don’t think very many people send letters these days, but I wanted this to be special.

It has been a while since you left for London. 3 months and 10 days since I last saw you. I miss you. I miss your face, I miss your smell. I miss the way you over-sweeten your coffee and undercook your fries. I know those are usually things I tease you about, but right now I really wish I had sickeningly sweet coffee and soggy fries. I wish I could cozy up to you and stick my deathly-cold feet under you and lay my head on your bony shoulders as we re-watch Dead Poets Society for the hundredth time.

Not much has changed here since you’ve gone. The plants still wilt before I remember to water them, and Abe meows at me every chance he gets. I think he misses you, too. He sleeps on your side of the bed, but I don’t know if it’s as much for me as it is for him. Your aunt calls every few days to check in on me. I think she is worried I’ll perish without you here, and sometimes it does feel that way. I need you to come home soon. I need you.

I want to hear all about your studies so far. Are they what you expected? Are you getting what you need out of it? I know this was both yours and your mother’s dream for you, and I’m so proud of you for going after it, just don’t forget me when you’re famous.

This will probably take a while to get to you. By the time you read this, we’d probably had thousands of conversations via text and phone, but I don’t care. I want you to have something to hold that I’ve touched, and I want the same from you. I want you to cherish these letters so that one day we can gross our future children out with how in love we are.

Take care, my love, and write back soon. I love you with all of the stars in the sky.

Love,

Wyn

Wyn,

Only you, of all people, would send me a letter when you could just FaceTime me. How formal! I know you love vintage clothes and vintage decor, so naturally, this is very fitting and very you. I sounded like a madman when I retrieved this letter from the mail room and died with laughter.

I miss you, my love, more than you know. I wish I could hold you and smell your vanilla hair. Trust me, my love, when you come to visit me, I will have plenty of sweet coffee and perfect fries waiting just for you. I love it when you tease me, and I love it even more when you pretend you aren’t. Don’t be mad, but I may have shared with my flatmates our love for Dead Poets Society, and as a result, have watched it a hundred times more with them, but nothing beats watching it with your cold feet.

Tell Abe I miss my sweet boy so much, and I’ll have extra scratches waiting for him. Please bring him with you to visit. Do whatever you have to to get him into that harness he hates. I need my boy. Tell my aunt that I’m doing fine and to stop bombarding you with calls. If she keeps it up, just tell her you won’t perish if she brings over her famous brownies.

Things are going well here. I’m getting along well with my flatmates, though they relentlessly make fun of the way I say “bags.” I didn’t realize we said it so differently from them, but I’ll take their word for it. Professor Whitfield has been so inspiring! His way of understanding and explanation is like none other back home. He tells me that if I keep it up, he can offer me a position in his lab. I don’t know if I’ll take it, it would mean staying here longer, but the experience would be incredible! What do you think, Wynnie? I don’t want to be away from you for so long, but you know how much I’ve wanted this. My grades have never been better, and I have been glued to my textbooks. It’s been a while since I tried so hard, since I’ve felt so free. It feels good, and I think I have you to thank.

I hope to hear from you soon. Please tell me how work is going. I love you with all my heart.

Yours,

Colby

My Colby,

My love, I miss you dearly, but I feel as though I would be doing you a disservice if I were to tell you to leave. You need to follow your heart, even if it leads you further from me. You need to take everything they throw at you, follow every path. Don’t worry about me so much, I’ll visit you at the end of term, and you’ll have to show me all your favourite spots in London!

I’m glad it is going so well with Professor Whitfield and that you are learning so much! Does it spark guidance in your career path? Do you feel more sure of yourself? Keep up the work, my love, you’re going to go so far! I just know it! Please send over whatever papers you are working on. I miss that strange brain of yours!

Your aunt has slowed down on the calling, but has kept me stocked with brownies for days. They are delicious, but I fear I’ll need to start getting back to the gym soon if she keeps this up! Who knows, maybe I’ll have an 8 pack by the time I get to see you.

Abe is still sleeping on your side (I think he thinks it’s his now), but he has been meowing at me less. He seems sad, and I can’t seem to cheer him up, but then again, his mama is sad too. I’ve been taking him to his favourite park as much as possible (he’s getting used to the harness), and it seems to bring him back to life for a few hours. He’s been my new movie buddy since someone seems to have found some new friends to watch with. I’m mostly kidding, though. I’m glad you are getting along so well with your flatmates, even if it means watching my favourite movie with them.

I’ve been reluctant to tell you because you’ve been doing so well over there, and I’d hate to seem like a disappointment in comparison. I decided to quit the bank. I know it was a rash decision, one I will probably regret, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. The same clients every day with the same problems, it just became emotionally exhausting. I’ve never liked it there, you know that, but the money was good and so were the benefits. I just couldn’t take feeling like I was settling over here while you were out there making your dreams come true. I want to do the same, I want to put my degree to use and feel like I am doing something with my life. I signed up to volunteer at a homeless shelter 2 days a week, and the rest I’ll be bartending at the Luna Lounge. There are no benefits, but the tips will be good. I’m hoping by the time you’re done over there, I’ll have enough to finally go to law school. I know this was impulsive and risky, but I have to try. I need to take the chance. This will be worth it, I know it. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

I love you with all the stars in the sky, Colby. Write back soon.

Love,

Wyn

Wyn,

I will say, I wasn’t expecting that, but I’m not surprised either. Considering how we met, I can say you have always been more of a believer than I, and I have so much faith in you, my love. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you. Don’t work yourself too thin, I know how you get. Once I get out of here, I’ll help you save as much as possible. We’ll get you to law school no matter what it takes. I’m glad you’re volunteering. I know you’ve always been passionate about helping out the homeless. I know once you have that fancy degree, you’ll be the best person to fight for them. I am so proud of you, Wynnie!

Thank you so much for supporting me. It means the world to me, you have no idea. It isn’t a for sure thing, but Whitfield says that if I keep working and the next few weeks of research go well, the spot is as good as mine. I don’t know if it’ll be where I end up, but the experience is everything. I hope my mother is proud up there of what we are working towards. What we are beginning to understand about ovarian cancer is outstanding. I don’t know if scientists will come to a cure anytime soon, but we certainly understand more. I wish she were still around to see the progress we were making. If only she held on a little longer. I’ll send over some papers soon. I’m starting to finalize some sections, and you know how much I value your opinion when it comes to my writing. Once we start seeing some results, I’ll prepare my slideshow and send it your way as well.

I’m glad my aunt is taking good care of you while I am away. Please save some brownies in the freezer for me. She has never made them for me that often, and I am quite jealous. I also envy your potential 8 pack. I’ve had barely any time for hobbies, let alone getting to the gym or running. I feel rather slow and like I have a constant pent-up energy. Even so, after so long in the lab, I am exhausted when I get home and end up sitting on the couch playing video games. When I get back, we are going to run a marathon to make up for all this loss. I don’t want to hear any excuses with that 8 pack of yours.

I’m glad Abe has been starting to settle. Tell him how much of a good boy I think he is for getting used to his harness. Give him extra scratches and kisses for me, and tell him I promise to take him to the park every day when I’m back. We’ll prepare him for the marathon too. It’ll be fun, we’ll have a nice family run and then get the greasiest of burgers and fries afterwards. I’ll even get one of those bubble backpacks to put him in when he gets tired.

Keep up the hard work over there, my love, and don’t worry about me here. I’m doing considerably great, aside from missing you. Save up as much as you can and keep volunteering; your resume will look amazing once you start applying again.

Keep me updated! I love you with all my heart!

Yours,

Colby

My Colby,

Sorry for taking so long to write back. I have been working like crazy at the lounge, and we have had so many incidents at the shelter this past week alone. I’ve been picking up as many shifts as possible and started keeping a jar for my tips so I don’t spend them. I’ve set the goal that once I reach $1000 in tips, I’ll head to the bank and open up a TFSA. I’ll keep adding to it each time I make that goal. As for the shelter, it has been a great experience, but I am exhausted, and I’m not sure I can handle all of this. It’s heartbreaking having to turn so many people away because we have become so full. Some fights have broken out, but security was there to handle them. I’m okay, just a bit shaken up and honestly heartbroken. I’m going to keep pushing through until the contract is over, then maybe I’ll move on to a new volunteer position. I’m thinking maybe the animal shelter next. I know it may not be as impactful career-wise, but I still think it’ll be fulfilling, plus it is where we got Abe. I’ve always had a love for animals, so I still think it’ll be rewarding. Maybe I can turn it into something that will stand out on my resume. I appreciate your support in all of this. I promise I will turn it into something.

I’m so proud of you, my love, and I know your mother is as well! I think the work you are doing is so important, and it will save the lives of so many women. Even if there is no solution yet, just your understanding will change the lives of patients everywhere. I wish I could be there to support you every day, and soon I will be. It may take me a little longer to get out there, now that I’m just at the bar, but I’ll get enough to be there for your presentation. I’m looking forward to seeing it and cheering on my baby!

As much as I have hated it in the past, I took your previous letter as motivation and have started running. It’s begun to snow harder here, so I’m only doing the treadmill so far, but as soon as it melts, I’ll get outside. I’ll be ready to race you in that marathon. I don’t know why I didn’t think to take up this strange hobby of yours sooner. It helps me relax after a shift, and most of all, it makes missing you hurt less. I’ve only been able to do a 3K on the treadmill so far, but I’m hoping to get to 5k by the end of winter. I’ll be running circles around you by the time I get there!

I’m thinking I’ll go visit my parents this weekend. They have been bugging me to visit ever since you left. I don’t know why I’ve been putting it off for so long. I guess I feel like if I leave our home, I’ll lose everything that smells like you. I want to be surrounded by that scent all the time, so I’m never without you. Send over your cologne, please, so I can spray it everywhere. It’s starting to fade.

I love you with all the stars in the sky, Colby!

Love,

Wyn

Wyn,

Find my cologne in the box that this was sent with. Use it wisely and don’t overspray, you know how Abe gets with strong scents.

I feel like I have so much to tell you, but I am tired of writing. I want to see your face when I tell you these things. I want to feel your arms around me when you tell me you love me. Please tell them you’re coming soon.

You know I would come to you if I could, but I can’t leave right now, we are so close! Please call me when you get this, so I can at least hear your voice. I’ll keep this short until then. I have to get back to the lab. I love you with all my heart.

Yours,

Colby

My Colby,

Abe had a scare this week. I came home to relentless meowing the other night, with Abe on the floor in pain, and it looked like there was blood. I panicked and scooped him up and raced over to the vet. I didn’t know what was wrong. Your aunt was supposed to go over and feed him since I was working a late shift. She didn’t say anything happened, so it must have happened after she had left. Everything’s okay, though. It seemed like Abe may have taken a tumble down the stairs and broken his toenail, nothing too serious, but certainly frightened me. The vet brought him in for emergency surgery and removed his nail. Though it is only one, Abe seems to be bitter that he is one claw down. He’s recovering well; it took him a bit to be comfortable walking, but he is back to his perky self.

I just wanted to give you that update. I’m going to be making it out to you next month, my love. I promise. I love you with all the stars in the sky!

Love,

Wyn

Wyn,

I know you were just here, so I don’t know why I didn’t ask then, but I can’t wait anymore. Some would say I should do this in person, but something about when you said letters were more romantic in the beginning has sparked something.

You have been so supportive of me, and I don’t know if I have ever felt so loved in all my life. You are my heaven and earth, my world, my soul. You have saved me from a permanent life of sorrow. You brought sunshine when I thought I only had clouds. You were the coffee date that I’ll never forget. I know we are a million miles apart right now, and we don’t know when I’ll be home. You once said you were taking a chance on me, and I think it worked out great.

All I am asking of you, Wynnie, is to take a chance on me now.

In this envelope, you’ll find my mother’s ring. I hope when I see you next, I’ll see it on your hand so that I can get down on one knee and say this in person.

Will you marry me?

Yours,

Colby