Letters To Charlotte

It was that time of the year when lovers meet and celebrate their togetherness. The day marked the relationship and comfort that the lovers shared amongst each other. Charlotte Altman, handsome and clever with a happy disposition, saw that Valentine's day celebration had been on in a full swing. She was twenty and nine and in her long white skirt and blue blouse, she looked impeccably beautiful. The clock in her book store showed five and she had to hurry to get the supplies for tonight's party. The absence of Robert enveloped her into a cloud of sadness and she only knew how she missed him. The emotions swirled and she refused to make friends and had been socially isolated for a while. But soon, her loss gave her enough strength to fight and live her life. And that was Charlotte. A girl who is very obstinate and strong hearted. She had attained the strength from Robert. All the strength which was left in her, she pulled that and focused on her book store. Her store was her dream and Charlotte succeeded in working on her passion. Her book store not only housed many books but also had book club. The book club organized reading every month and celebrated their friendship. Charlotte was very much part of the book club and everyone was fond of her. As she herself was a voracious reader, her book store gave her enough time to immerse herself in a ocean of books. She thought it gave her a relief from Robert's loss. Also the customers and a busy day in book store moved her thoughts away from her beloved.

Charlotte switched off the lights of the book store and started to walk for the market. She had invited few of her friends and Robert's friends tonight to celebrate Valentine's day. Robert always liked to meet his friends on this day and the party was filled with conversations, dance and good food. Charlotte had kept this tradition as a tribute to Robert. As she entered the market center, she saw many red ribbons and red coloured bands, pillows with hearts, soft toys having a sign of love, and many more love filled artefacts. The past glared at her. She could remember the blow which hit her like a sucker punch. She wanted to erase everything and go back to that year. The hard blow of the wind woke Charlotte up from the reverie. The sand dunes were formed making the pattern of hearts and she could see Robert's image in each of them.

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The fun and laughter rose and Charlotte's house was filled with Robert and her close friends. Shan, a man with handsome features and wealthy background, had come with his wife Haley. Michael - though he looked disagreeable at first sight to Charlotte, her opinion grew high in regards to him. He was very loyal to his friends and always stood for them. Robert talked high of him. Jamie firefox, a woman of easy fortune and gentle character, smiled more and had come with her kids and her long time boyfriend Harry. The kids had pleasant manners and talked very little. Caroline and Teddy, who were more like sisters than friends, accompanied each other for the party. Robert was fond of these small set and they were more like family than friends. They all missed him so much and often conversations glided over to the past. Charlotte's sisters were also present in the party to give her support and company. Her sisters were the only family as her parents had died only a year ago. Though she shared and confided with her sisters, they were removed by matrimony and were settled far off South England. Charlotte wondered why William did not turn up for the party. Robert was his best friend. Charlotte had called him to invite but he was unreachable. She thought she will call him up again and check on him the next day.

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The event had every promise of happiness. Following morning, Charlotte cleaned the house and visited her garden full of different and colourful flowers. The garden reminded her marriage to Robert. She thought how well they had settled and having their merry time when a call came to Robert. The call of war or call of death, she couldn't say. Robert was a army man and he had to fight for the gruelling war that had set on the country. He lost himself and made the country win. As Charlotte waited for his return, only his belongings returned. The sorrow came and enveloped her with its misery. Charlotte's eyes grew moist and she went inside the kitchen to get herself a cup of tea. She heard a door bell. The post had come for her. A wrapped box with a handwritten name. Robert. It was like he himself had come to her and gave her a surprise. The tears were running and emotions gripped her. It was a box full of letters. The letters that Robert himself had written for her. The feelings that he had poured in each and every word spoke volumes.

It was 21 letters and she read one by one. Each letter was embodiment of love that she wanted to frame it. Happiness, sorrow, loneliness, expectations, fun and jokes, memories was etched in each letters. Two souls were re united through written words. Charlotte closed her eyes and wanted to take in every word. She took in the air and warmth of the paper at a stretch that after a point of time, her lungs ached. But she wanted to breathe the smell of paper that Robert had held close. Each moment was beautifully captured in the letter which made a unforgettable memory for Charlotte. Two letters which stirred her soul and she wanted to make something to offset the disappointment that had caused in Robert's mind.

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Olivia was stunned for a while after listening to the story and reading those letters. She listened to her mother and father but could not resist her thoughts that had already drifted away to Robert and Charlotte. Jessica shook her and Olivia cried. The urge to meet her uncle and aunt shrouded her with a grief and sadness. William and Jessica continued the story.

Charlotte called William that same evening to check on him. Robert had mentioned the dispute of William and his relatives towards the family property. William answered the call and they talked nearly for an hour. William was very decent man who never got into troubles. She told him that she would like to help him get rid of this chaos. Charlotte went to the court and was with William throughout the case hearings. It was nearly one year that the case went in for judgement. Charlotte was the only moral support and family and she stood with him in his rainy days. William was very much pleased and thankful for Charlotte's heart. Tears stood in the corner of his eyes when he spoke. Olivia saw her father who was known for his strong heart and powerful countenance, cried like a small baby. She though how her aunt and uncle had a strong hold on their life. She saw Jessica stepped forward to tell the remaining part of the story.

Jessica was not a real sister but a half sister of Robert. Robert adored her and she was looked after by him like a baby in the family. He fulfilled all her wishes and dreams but while on war, he couldn't communicate frequently with her. Jessica was running a art gallery and her business slowed down due to the poor economy. She suffered huge losses and almost became bankrupt. That is when, Charlotte traced her and advised her to come and stay with her. At first, she hesitated but Charlotte was the only one to whom Jessica could lean on. She had no one. She lost her brother and a best companion. Charlotte helped pay all her debts and helped bring her out of the mess. Slowly, Jessica rose again and started a small gallery which fetched her sufficient profits. In the same year, William and Jessica tied the knot.

Jessica wiped her wet tears and hugged Olivia and William. The sun made its path and shone on three of them. It was not mere sun but the blessings that was bestowed on them by Charlotte and Robert. Olivia winked at the photo frame that had her uncle and aunt smiling merrily.

The following day, Olivia went to the cemetery and stood by Charlotte's grave. She kept the flowers one by one. The breeze came gushing and touched Olivia's cheeks. She felt her aunt's presence and breathed in the air. Their family was an example of nexus of harmony.