Love learns to let go

She had been dreading this day for a long time. The day when she would finally receive his last letter. The letter he had written before he left for the war, the letter he had entrusted to his best friend, the letter he had promised to send her if he didn't make it back.

She knew it was coming when she saw the familiar handwriting on the envelope. She felt a surge of mixed emotions: fear, pain, anger, curiosity. She opened it with trembling hands and read his words:

My dearest Anna,

If you are reading this, it means I'm gone. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise to come back to you. I'm sorry I couldn't give you the life we dreamed of. I'm sorry I couldn't grow old with you.

But please don't be angry. Don't let hate consume you. Don't let bitterness harden your heart. Don't let regret haunt you. Remember the good times we had, the love we shared, the happiness we felt.

You are the best thing that ever happened to me. You are the reason I fought so hard to survive. You are the reason I wrote this letter. You are the reason I can die in peace.

I love you more than words can say. I love you more than life itself. I love you more than anything in this world.

Please don't forget me. Please don't forget our love. Please don't forget that I will always be with you, in your heart, in your soul, in your mind.

Please be happy. Please be strong. Please be free.

Goodbye, my love.

Yours forever,

Tom

She finished reading and crumpled the letter angrily. She wiped away her tears and screamed loudly. She felt a cold sensation in her chest, a feeling of betrayal and resentment. She whispered bitterly:

"Damn you, Tom. Damn you for leaving me. Damn you for writing me this letter. Damn you for giving me false hope."

She threw the letter in a trash can with his other letters, his photos, his ring. She burned the trash can and watched it go up in flames. She stood up and walked to the window. She looked at the sky and felt a harsh wind on her face.

She felt him there, mocking her, hurting her, lying to her.

She cursed him and whispered:

"Good riddance, Tom. Good riddance, my love."

She turned around and walked out of the room.

She was ready to move on.

She walked out of the room and into the hallway. She saw a man standing at the door of the apartment across from hers. The man had short brown hair and green eyes. He was holding a gun and a note.

She recognized him as the man who lived behind her. The man who had moved in a few months ago. The man who had always glared at her and said nothing. The man who had never invited her for anything.

She wondered what he was doing there. She wondered if he knew about Tom. She wondered if he was here to kill her or something else.

She decided to find out. She walked towards him and greeted him coldly.

"Hello, I'm Anna. I live in front of you."

The man smirked and pointed his gun at her.

"Hello, I'm Mark. I live behind you."

They stared at each other and exchanged threats.

"I'm here to end your misery, Anna." Mark said, handing her the note.

Anna took it and looked at it curiously.

"What is this?" she asked.

Mark laughed and looked away.

"It's... it's a confession." he said.

"A confession?" Anna repeated, confused.

Mark nodded and took a deep breath.

"Yes, a confession. I... I hate you, Anna. I have hated you since the first day I saw you. You are so ugly, so stupid, so weak. I despise you so much. I want to hurt you. I want to make you suffer."

Anna stared at him in disbelief. She felt a wave of shock, fear, disgust, rage. She didn't know how to react. She didn't know what to say.

She opened the note and read the words:

Dear Anna,

I know this is sudden and unexpected. I know you are going through a hard time. I know you loved him very much.

But please don't think this is a joke. Please don't think this is a mistake.

I hate you, Anna. I hate you more than anything in this world.

Please give me a chance....