March 12, 1990 - Gladiolus (Part 6/6)

The point of view shift from Eleven's to Sol's.

The date is March 12. It's been 20 days since me and Eleven became official. We went on different dates on different places since that day. Bonn has not been bothering Eleven lately ever since we started holding hands on public. March 12. Graduation day.

Winds softly breeze through. Graduation rights have finished. Photographs on Polaroids were taken. Flowers were given. Tears were shed. It is a bittersweet feeling.

Nostalgia. The feeling of success and fulfillment. It all seemed to mix. Melancholic, yet dignified. Proud, yet longing.

A quote I once read says, "A page of our beautiful youth will be written, and I'll fill it up with you."

This new page will be written by me and Eleven. I'm sure of it.

I'll surely miss her for the time being, though.

I looked at the time. 12 noon. I excused myself from my parents and ran to our university park.

I looked for the Golden Shower tree. Under the yellow flowers, a girl is standing in her toga. She is very graceful as her hair waves with the wind. It's Eleven. I slowly approached her from the back and hugged her.

Tears fall down from my eyes.

"Do you really have to leave me?" Eleven says as a tear drops from her cheek.

"I really need to. My parents want to celebrate my graduation back home."

I look at the view that approached us. Mountains and streams flow while cold chilly noon air continues to blow.

"Do you promise me that you'll never leave me?" she asks me.

"I promise."

She takes something from her fingers. It's the moon bracelet. "Take it." she says.

I saw the marking on the bracelet. It says, "Ellen"

"Ellen?" I ask her. Who is that?

"Me. That's what my closest friends and family call me. And since you're family, I want you to have it and look at it."

"Sure." I replied. "Eleven, my plane's leaving in a few hours, I need to go."

"Can we stay like this for a little bit more?" She asks me.

"Sure."

Candy closes the letter. Ellen? Did this letter just say Ellen? My best friend Ellen? The librarian Ellen? My Ellen?

Just as she asks that same question, Ellen barges in the room. "Candy? What are you doing with my stuff?" End of Chapter.

"Gladiolus represents integrity and strength. Together, we'll stay together amidst space and time. As I write a new page of my life, I'll make sure to write it with you."

-Lovingly Yours, Sol.