Letters To Jace

Chapter One

“Hey wake up, love. Listen, I went to go pick up the mail and this letter came for you. It doesn’t have an address. Only the names Addison and Aaron McLennal. Do you know an Addison or Aaron McLennal?” she asked. As I started to wake up I heard the buzzing of the hospital monitors and the faint sound of a Tv playing. 

As I sat up on the uncomfortable hospital bed, she handed me the letter. Feeling the rough paper, I felt as if I was going to get a paper cut. Getting a closer look at it, I recognized my name and address; me, the one and only Jace Diamond. She was right, it only had their names on it, no return address. I opened the letter carefully and removed the neatly folded paper from inside. As I unfolded the paper I noticed my friend’s signature mark. There was a blue smudged swirly circle in the corner, I smiled at the memory of our childhood. I finished opening the paper and began reading..

Dear Jace,

Aaron and I have just arrived in Los Angeles. We’ve been planning this vacation for two years and I’m so happy you agreed to come with us. When we get to Las Vegas we’ll call you. That’ll be in a few weeks because we’re planning on staying here a few more days. Then we go from here to Agoura hills. From there we’ll see where we end up. 

Love Always, 

Aaron and Addison McLennal

...the letter read. I couldn’t believe they never told me when their vacation would start.

“What’d the letter say?” said my sister, Melinda. 

“It said their vacation has already started. They never told me this. They’ll come to Vegas in a few weeks, they said. It’s just, I can’t. You see the condition I’m in. The doctors said I’m not going to be able to walk until tomorrow, from there my cast doesn’t come of until 6 weeks. I can’t leave the damn house for another month or even a year! There’s no way I can go with them now.” I explained. Last week I got jumped on the way to the super market and had a cracked rib and a broken leg. My face was bruised, yes but it wasn’t anything that couldn’t heal.

“Well look at the bright side. You’ll be healing and they get to have their fun. And by healing I mean being lazy. You could watch movies and Tv and have others make you stuff while they have to get and make stuff themselves.” she responded. The little glint in her eyes told me there was something else she wasn’t telling me.

I folded the paper back in it’s place and set it on my bedside table. I crossed my arms and glared at her. “Look, do you have their number. I need to call her.” 

“Yeah give me a sec.” she whipped out her phone and pressed a few buttons. After a moment of silence she said, “Here.” She handed me her phone that was already on its way to calling Addison. 

“Hello?” said a woman’s voice from the other line.

“Addison? Is this you?”

“Yeah, who’s this?” the voice answered.

“It’s me, Jace. I ca-” I was interrupted

“JACE? NO WAY! LOOK AARON IT’S JACE. How are you doing Jace! I’ve missed you so much! There are so many things we have to discuss. First of all, when are you going to be ready? We’re heading to Vegas as we speak! We’ll be there first thing in the morning so get your things ready. Jace Diamond get ready for the best vacation you’ve ever ha-” she responded

“Addison, I can’t go with you this year. I’m at the hospital.” I said, trying to hide the sadness in my voice. Yeah, that failed. 

“What! What happened?” She said, her voice filled with panic. 

“I’ll tell you when you get here. But please, don’t be worried. It’s nothing bad. All I wanted to tell you was that I hope you guys have a great vacation. There’s nothing I can do because I won’t be able to leave the house for another 6 to 12 weeks. I’m sorry.” I told her, tears now streaming down my face. All I ever wanted was to vacation with her. Ever since we were kids, we’d always say we’d get married. Over the years, we were best friends and then we parted ways when we finished high school. I always loved her, but she never returned that love. Two years after seeing her, I attended her wedding. That I can say was the most painful experience in my entire life. What was more painful was having her tell me to keep in touch.

“Oh Jace, I’m so sorry. If there’s anything we can do, just call okay? And we’ll be rushing to your side, right Aaron?”

“Ugh yeah sure,” he responded, boredom filling his voice. 

“Alright, umm. I’ll talk to you tomorrow okay. You guys are probably busy right now so I’ll let you go. Bye” I said and shut my sister’s phone. Handing it back to her, I sighed. 

“Are you okay? You need me to bring you anything?” she asked. 

“Ice cream from the outside world would do. I hate this hospital food.”

“Alright be right back, you just um… stay there,” she said.

Yeah, like I can go anywhere. I shifted uncomfortably to my right side and closed my eyes, drifting back into the dream world.