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Hey you,
Writing your memory book was clever as hell. Only you would be that organized! However, it’s only your view of your past and you missed out some pretty important people like your wonderful fiancé.
AND YOUR BEST FRIEND - HEY, NEE IT’S ME!
Sorry, she stole the letter and had to get a word in, but then we all know that’s Lea!
Anyway, back to your present. I want to give you as much of the past as I can. Not in a ‘you used to do this way,’ because that sucks. I want you to work out who you are now, but I wanted to give you as much of the past as I could, so you know you were never, ever alone… and you never will be.
Ionee, we love you. All of us. Forever. xx
I laid the letter on the bed carefully before I lifted the first book out of the box, which was wrapped in pink paper, laughing as I opened it.
Nee lovesFox.
Charlie
Fox
Charlie
Fox - CHARLIE - stop crossing this out. Dick. She loves me more.
YOU WISH Fox! But I guess it’s ok to admit that you love us… both of us and we love you. Wanna take a look?
I turned the page and there was photo after photo, with memories scribbled beside them in a scrawly spider print and then a large, sweeping scroll that looked like it had been crafted in a posh boarding school.
There were stories about places we’d been together, dinners we’d eaten, nights watching movies, and day trips to random places where they had to hide who they were and I apparently laughed loudly about how famous they all thought they were. When there weren’t photos, because apparently we’d been having too much fun, they had drawn ridiculous stick drawings of us all that made me laugh even louder. By the time I got to the end of the book, I was crying happy tears.
The second book was from Sophia and Laura, Archer’s sisters, who I still hadn’t re-met, but again there was page after page of photos and stories. I’d only known them about six months longer than I’d known Archer, so the book wasn’t full, but the end made me burst into tears again.
The book isn’t full, but that’s because we have a lifetime of more memories to make. We love you, Nee, and we can’t wait to see you soon. xx
The third book was twice as thick as the others and I knew who this would be from.
I don’t think there is a book big enough to write all the memories I have with you, but these will get you started. Lea x
We’d caught up a lot on the bus, but it was the tip of the iceberg of what she’d put in her book. Stories about teachers from school, the trouble we’d gotten into, nights out, nights at home, parties, sleepovers, secrets we’d told each other, promises we’d made. Line after line, page after page, she’d written and written, claiming at the end that there was no room for photos, but she promised to show me them all when we got home.
And finally, there was Archer’s. I sucked in a deep breath as I opened it.
On the first page was the story of how we met in such detail I could almost feel myself there. He told me about his fear, his nerves, how he ran and then he detailed our life in order. One memory after the other, poured onto the page and when he’d forgotten anything, he scribbled notes in the corners or stuck in extra pages. I’d had this strange connection with Archer from the minute I met him, but this, this felt like it gave me back our past and it filled me up in a way I didn’t ever think I’d feel. I couldn’t believe he’d gone to all this trouble for me and I loved him for it.
I froze.
I loved him?
Did I or was it the emotion talking? I closed my eyes and thought about never seeing Archer again, about the connection I felt when I’d first seen him, the connection we’d built since he’d found me.
“Archer,” I screamed, scrabbling from the bed, my robe slipping from my shoulder as I ran from the bedroom.
He’d stood from the sofa, looking panicked.
“I love them. God, you’re such a good man. Thank you. Thank you for giving me all those memories.”
His lips tipped into a wry smile. “I expected tears. I didn’t expect screaming. Are you okay?”
Unable to stay away from him, I ran, launching myself at him and he caught me like I’d done it a million times before.
