It could have been the rustling of the dried up grass as a bird did it’s awkward two legged hop to find a worm or some seeds on the ground. It would be equally as likely that there was just the briefest of sweep of the wind, just barely powerful enough that leaves against brushed against each other but was imperceptible to me. Or it could have been that she really did sigh as I turned to walk away along the dusty trail back home. I hope it was the latter because that would mean that this wasn’t based upon a hallucination or my own vivid imagination but a real meaningful event.

In any case, the result was the same. A single letter written with a name and a number at the bottom and a youthful hope infused into the paper holding everything together. It was stuffed into an envelope of despair, an envelope devoid of address, postage, and even return address. There was a single name scrawled in barely legible cursive across the front. As I walked to deliver it my feet were slowly melting into the concrete beneath, each step a little harder to talk than the last. Clammy hands clutching tightly onto the message, frozen with trepidation. My mind a torrent of doubts, courage, hopes, and fear smashing into each other. And yet, somehow, I make it through the double doors to the receptionist in order to stammer out my request. There were assurances given to me that you’ld get it that very day: no postage necessary.

I strode out with the littlest of hops in my step, an imperceptible bounce of happiness and relief as I headed back into the hills where I had met you the day before. My hands were instantly lighter relieved from their burden as messenger, my mind instantly cleared of all tumultuous turmoil leaving only glorious possibility. The clear blue sky filled with the bright morning sun revealing an earnest smile absent of all cares and worries.