The Last Epistle

11. warding off obsessions

Steve stood in the middle of their room for a while, his hands resting on his hips standing in that posture just like Diane had not too long ago.

A soft sigh leaving his parted lips and with a shake of his head he left to go get things handled.

Diane sat in the bathtub, head resting along the edge of it as she closed her eyes, revelling in the way the warm water soaked into her skin,

Sighing in relief as the stress left her body, she opened her eyes again, lifting a hand from where it was immersed in the water and stared at her hand for a while.

Looking at the shrinking crevices, effected by the water, her mind blank, she could sleep right here that's how relaxed she was,

Taking that as her cue to leave, she got out, drained the tub, and dressed herself in the clothes Steve had thoughtfully set on the sinks granite,

She walked through the house, towards the hall as the sweet smells of food entered her nose, walking with silent footsteps she sneaked up behind her fiance,

Watching him setting the table diligently, having changed from his outside wear to the casual flannel pajams and a grey t-shirt.

She told leaning on the door frame and took in the scene until a noisy grumble startled her, brows frowning as she realized it was her incessant stomach reacting to the smells wafting around the room,

Steve turned around, a smile breaking on his face when he saw Diane, her own splitting in an almost shy smile,

"M'lady" Steve cleared his throats, adding the theatrics, Diane schooled her expressions to be one of snooty pride as she walked towards him in a graceful stride,

Setting her hand in his raised one, as he gripped on firmly and helps her sit in her pushed out chair, before pushing it back in,

Their eyes meet as he sits down besides her and they break into giggles,

"So how was Edmund? And Sheila?" Diane prompted whilst they stuffed their face with the food she could barely remember cooking now,

"Mm, they're good, struggling a bit now that the kids are always home, they looked properly exgausted"

They shared a laugh,

"And the kids? How are they?" Diane asked fondly referring to his niece and nephew and her former students.

"Oh as well as they can be, you know how they are, running all ice the place" he huffed a laugh as she nodded in tandem.

The rest of the day was spent in a flurry, days were always better when they were together,

Before they'd known it, they were already sitting in their bed in the soft glow of their lamps, Diane head resting on Steve's chest,

She thought about the wedding for a while, finding it easy to get carried away with it, with Steve nose deep into a book,

She pursed her lips as she left the fantasy realm and decided to read the letters, she shifted suddenly promting Steve to look at her, just as startled,

As she stretched to pick up the box from her bedside table and opened it gently, Steve set his book aside as if getting the memo,

She picked out the first one, the one she'd already read slightly, she craned her neck to look at Steve, who looked at her with furrowed eyebrows and lips pursed and then looked back at the letter in her hand.

She looked down at the letter and unfolded it, she started reading.

Dear Matthew,

Idle time has been far and few between, and even in those quiet, little moments I think of you.

I told you I keep my promises and now you know that I never lie.

I didn't lie when I confessed darling, I hope you know that.

I know I broke your heart, It keeps me awake every night.

I keep thinking about it, your eyes, your face. I've hurt you, I never meant to.

I don't know if you would be inclined to read this, but all I can do is try and hope that it reaches you.

Sometimes I wish I hadn't done, left like that, to come running back to you but I can't.

You know I can't, I must do this.

All I can hope for is that, that this reaches you, and that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Yours,
Stella.

The two pair of eyes drank in the words in tandem, Diane plopped down the letter unceremoniously and folded it in record time,

Making quick work to place it in its box and turn off her lamp, Steve watched for a few moments before he followed suit.

Wrapping his arms around her and nestling her head in the crook of his neck, he breathed softly.

"Talk to me, why are you so quiet" "Don't worry I'm not upset, just need to stop obsessing you know" she shush him

"Besides I've been wanting to sleep after that lavish bath I took" she smiled into his neck and he rubbed his fingers on her scalp soothingly.

"That I won't argue with"

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