A letter of regret

Dear John,

I know I promised to call you when we parted.

I know I failed to keep my word.

I never called you, not even once I felt the need to visit you.

When I left you, I left a part of my childhood behind.

Wasn’t this the place where we used to meet?

Wasn’t this the very tree we ran around?

Our childish eyes brimming with innocent excitement.

Wasn’t this the place where we buried our broken toys?

Right below the big old tree’s belly, as you used to say.

But time ran as we grew old.

I felt the need to explore my life outside this childish horizon.

That is why I left you, with a fake promise that I’d call you.

I confess. I was young, stupid and dreamed big.

I wanted to marry a rich city man.

Not a farmer’s son who had made up his mind

To remain back and look after the family business.

I know I hurt you when we last met here...

You wanted me to stay with you like always;

But I wanted out. I wanted adventure.

Never did I realize this was where

All my future adventures lay.

When I finally realized my loneliness,

Had nothing to do with the dozen heartbreaks I endured;

But it was due to a single heartbreak that I inflicted,

Upon a man with whom I grew up with;

That is when I decided to revisit this place.

I imagined seeing you standing below the old tree,

Waiting for me as always.

But I was too late wasn’t I?

Had I not left, you would still be here... with me.

Had I called you as I promised,

You would have made me change my mind,

And we could still be together right now.

But while I ignored your call,

You decided to visit me anyway.

Had you not boarded that flight at 12.01,

I wouldn’t be sitting all alone,

Under this big old tree.

I wouldn’t be writing all these in your memory.

Memory... that is all is left of you.

Like a broken toy, I’m going to bury my broken heart

Right below the big old tree’s belly.

Not a day will go by where I don’t regret of ever deserting you.

Your memory... is all that’s left for me here...

May your soul rest in peace.

Love,

Linda.

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Prompt : Short story slam week 19, The Poetry Palace

 P.S: First off, a figment of my imagination(as always :P). There was this beautiful painting/picture at the short story prompt and immediately I wanted to be a part of it. The more I observed this beautiful picture, the more I felt sad. Whoever the artist is, they have managed to capture that deep sense of sad/despair kind of emotion totally well. I know I'm far from doing a good justice to this pic through my fictional letter, but I always wanted to write a sadistic love letter and now I got the chance!! :P