The Jock, The Nerd and The Geek

Epilogue (Part Two)

Slowly, he walked to it, his eyes now on the box. His room looked pristine, perfect, but empty, as if most of his belongings had been packed.

Marcos didn't put it past his Abuela to know that the only reason he frequently came was her. Not that she showed any signs of ill health, or pain, but she was the one person he could discuss Alex freely with, that understood his pain easier than others did.

The fact she had packed his things... It was like she knew that it was the last time they would share such things together. "Did she... Suffer?"

"No," His mother answered in English, her voice low as he began to trace his hand through it. "Your Abuela was a strong woman and she was to the end, Marcos, but it was... It was her time."

Hearing those words... Angered him, in a sense, but at the same time, he knew she was hurt more than he was. His Abuela had always been there for her after his Father's death, and as usual, would rather ignore than face it head on. "She finally gets to meet Carlos and rest," And I'm stuck here, never meeting her. "How lucky."

"Marcos, if there's anything you need-"

He turned around, an understanding smile on his face as he nodded, replying, "It's fine, Mama. I know."

Their relationship wasn't as strained as before, but they both knew that the best version of it remained for themselves to be distant. She loved him, and he loved her, but they were two different people, one who refused to show herself break, and the other sensitive and expressive.

Still, they both had each other now, and they knew that.

So Maria nodded, leaving his room, and he turned his attention back to the box again, his hand now pulling open the lid before carrying it back to his bed and bringing out the contents inside it.

In it were his photo albums, something they both looked through, then some photos of him and Alexandra, a copy of the one when he first dyed his hair among them, his box of jewellery from her, his stuffies, the small ones anyway.

At a point, he brought out his collar and stared at it for a few seconds, the urge to wear it and have the euphoric of being hers one again flood through his nerves but he ignored it, bringing out the other things that he knew he should throw away and then carried out the last thing in the box.

His old fairytale story book.

Marcos stared at it, confusion etched on his face. He hadn't seen it in... Years, and the fact she had left it in box seemed strange but he didn't think too much of it. It was the stereotypical fairytale romance, and he had always liked the princess, wanted to be the princess.

You're my Princess.

He shut his eyes out as a shiver flowed through his body, temporarily numbing him before opening them and staring at the book, he had loved it but thought he had lost it when he was younger, the fact she kept it for him...

Slowly, he opened the book and immediately he did that, watched an envelope fall to the floor.

Marcos stared at it for a few seconds, setting the book aside and picked it, staring at the writing of the address that seemed incredibly familiar from an E. Holland and opened it.

Dear Soledad,

I apologize that my letter is coming late. The raids are getting worse and the time to actually rest decreases by the days but I hope my letter finds you well.
Truly, I don't know who you are, or perhaps, I do not remember, but I don't mind. I can tell you are a lovely person from your last letter and I don't mind talking to you as much as I can. I never receive anything and talking to someone else without having to worry about burdening them due to our current situation feels uplifting.
Plus, we were taught that any old lady that had cookies good enough to raise the spirit of half a battalion was worthy of many things, which the ones you sent did, and they all send their thanks.
I look forward to hearing from you more, and do stop your unhealthy obsession with red meat, it wouldn't increase the flesh on your body.