{ the invitation }
There are many lies a person tells over the years. Lies whispered in the dark, murmured over teacups, and spoken with fake confidence. Lies to shield one’s heart, to preserve one’s pride. But the most dangerous lies are the lies we tell ourselves. Lies we push away until all we can feel is… nothing. Archie had become something of a master of such untruths.
He had told himself, time and again, that his feelings for Adeline meant nothing more than fondness, a warmth no greater than what one might feel for a childhood friend. He had convinced himself that she deserved more than he could offer, that to love her openly would bring ruin upon them both. And so he had spoken the ultimate lie: I only see you as my dear friend.
A confusing line since the letter Archie wrote to Adeline and never intended to send them… Ended up in her hands.
Letters to Adeline
𝑴𝒚 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆,
𝑨𝒔 𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒘𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚. 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔, 𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒇 – 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.
𝑺𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆, 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎, 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒓. 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖.
𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆
𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞,
𝐌𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭, 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬? 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲? 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲, 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝.
𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝*,* 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬, 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰s, 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧.
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲,
𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞
My Dearest Adeline,
Time has a way of creating its magic, doesn’t it? It seems like only yesterday that we were the carefree children of our beloved town, embarking on thrilling adventures and sharing secrets in the most hidden corners. Yet, with each passing day, I find myself drawn to the memories we created, and to you, in a way I could not have anticipated.
The warmth of your laughter continue to be the brightest stars in the night sky of my memories. Adeline, it’s impossible to deny the profound impact you’ve had on my life, a fact that has grown even more evident as the years have unfolded.
I hope this letter uncovers the depth of the emotions that have been taking root within my heart. It’s as if a seed was planted in my soul during our childhood adventures, and over time, it has grown into something more. The fondness I once held for you has transformed into an affection that I can no longer ignore. Adeline, I find myself drawn to you in a way that goes beyond friendship. I must confess that your smiles have become a source of comfort to me, your laughter a melody I cherish, and your presence peace. It is you who fills my thoughts.
Yours sincerely,
Archie
My Dearest Adeline,
As I sit by my window, the moonlight gently casting its silvery glow, I find myself compelled to share thoughts that I’ve held deep within my heart for a long while. It is a secret I’ve guarded closely, a treasure I’ve held for you alone.
From the moment we first embarked on those secret adventures, exploring the mysterious and abandoned corners of our town, a bond formed between us that I have cherished more than words can convey. Your laughter echoed through those echoing halls, and your courage shone brighter than any lantern that ever illuminated our path. It was in those moments that I knew you were the most extraordinary person I had ever met.
You see, Adeline, I have carried with me a silent affection for you, one that has grown stronger with each passing day. It’s an affection that goes beyond friendship, beyond camaraderie. It’s a warmth that fills my heart when I see you smile, a light that guides me through the darkest of times. It’s a profound connection that I cannot deny.
And yet, I have held my feelings close, concealed them as a well-guarded secret, for I could not bear to jeopardize the precious friendship that we share, a friendship that I hold dear.
Your brother Atlas may not always pay you the attention you so rightly deserve, and it pains me to see that. In our childhood, I hoped to be the friend who made you feel included, who stood by your side in those thrilling escapades and whispered adventures. I aimed to be your protector, to ensure that your laughter never faded.
My dearest Adeline, though these words may never be spoken aloud, I wish you to know that they are true. My affection for you remains a secret, and as we continue our lives, I will suppress these feelings, for I understand the importance of timing and circumstance.
We have much ahead of us, and I am not yet ready to consider the prospect of marriage or romance. There are dreams to chase, aspirations to fulfill, and a future to shape.
But always remember, Adeline, that I am your friend, your confidant, and your silent admirer, who wishes nothing but happiness and joy for you, even if it means keeping these feelings locked in the depths of my heart.
Yours sincerely,
Archie
My Dearest Adeline,
With each passing day, my affection for you grows stronger, and it is undeniable that my heart longs for the warmth of your presence and the light of your smile. Yet, Adeline, it is truth that I am burdened by a different set of priorities, aspirations, and responsibilities.
The world in which we move, the expectations placed upon our shoulders, are not always forgiving. I find myself compelled to follow a path that has been laid out for me, one filled with obligations to my family, my name, and my own ambitions. It is a path that I walk with the hope of leaving a lasting legacy, of contributing to the world in some meaningful way. But it is also a path that may not easily harmonize with the dreams and aspirations that you may hold, dear.
I fear, dear Adeline, that my inability to fulfill those desires may cast a shadow upon the light of our friendship, which I hold so dear. It is not that I do not wish to see you happy, to bring joy to your heart, but rather a heavy acknowledgment that the road I tread may not lead to the same destinations you seek.
It pains me to think that I may not be able to give you the life you envision or the promises that your heart may crave. I do not wish to stand in the way of your happiness. And then you there is also your brother. We both know how Atlas is.
Adeline, I want nothing more than to see you find the happiness you so rightfully deserve. Please understand that, even if I cannot be the one to provide it, I will always be your friend, your confidant, and your supporter.
Yours sincerely,
Archie
Dearest Adeline,
My days and nights are filled with wishes, wishes that I could be the one to make you laugh, to bring light to your life, and to stand by your side as a loving partner. I long to be the one who could share in your dreams and walk with you along the path of happiness.
But the painful reality I must confront is that, for all my desires, I know that I cannot be that person. My heart aches with that knowledge.
I want you to know, Adeline, that this is a truth I wrestle with each day, for my love for you is boundless. I long for the day when I could be the one to make your heart sing and your dreams come true. But I know that my own journey carries me on a different course. I would give anything to be the person you desire.
Yours with a heavy heart,
Archie
Dearest Adeline,
As I sit here, rum warming my veins and thoughts of you consuming my mind, I find myself unable to resist the urge to put ink to this parchment and confess what has long been weighing heavily on my heart.
Adeline, my darling, you are the flame that ignites the darkest corners of my soul, casting shadows aside. In your presence, I am intoxicated, unable to resist the magnetic pull of your allure. Oh, how I long to lose myself in the depths of your gaze, to trace the contours of your lips. Your beauty is beyond this world.
But it is not just your physicality that captivates me, no, it is the essence of you. Your wit is sharper than any blade, your intellect nothing but brilliant. And so, my darling, I confess to you now that I am hopelessly, and undeniably in love with you. My heart beats for you and you alone.
I yearn for you, Adeline, body and soul, and I ache to hold you in my arms.
Archie
Dearest,
As the night deepens, so does the flame that burns within me for you. I cannot deny the intoxicating effect you have on me. Adeline, you are the embodiment of all my desires. The mere thought of your touch sends shivers down my spine.
How I long to feel the warmth of your skin pressed against mine. Each moment without you feels like an eternity, a cruel punishment inflicted upon a man who knows only the torture of yearning for the unattainable. Tonight, as the moon watches in silent witness, I reveal the depths of my desire for you. I crave the electricity of our connection.
Archie
Adeline,
I have come to a decision, one that is both difficult and necessary. It is with a heavy heart that I have chosen not to send these letters to you. As much as I long to share the depths of my affection and admiration for you, I have come to realize that some things are better kept a secret. There is a beauty in the quiet moments, the unspoken emotions, and the bond we share.
Adeline, I understand that sometimes, the most selfless act of love is to let go, to preserve the sanctity of the friendship we hold dear. The world may never know the depth of my feelings, but I want you to know that I carry them with grace, even in silence.
As I close this chapter of unspoken words, I do so with the hope that our friendship will remain as strong. I look forward to the many more moments we will share.
Yours.
The morning the invitation arrived, the Hastingston household felt quiet. The faint chiming of the clock had barely announced the start of the day when a footman presented the envelope. Archie was at the dining table, his hand poised over a slice of toast he had no intention of eating. He was reading though anyone paying close attention would notice his gaze did not move in several minutes. Margaret sat across from him, her teacup balanced between her fingers, her eyes sharp and knowing as she observed her brother.
When their mother entered the room with the invitation in hand, a satisfied smile gracing her lips, Margo and Archie looked at each other with the same expression. “An invitation from the Queen’s Palace!” she announced, her voice carrying the excitement of someone who had just received confirmation of their own societal triumph. “The weddings of the season… Two of them! Both to be celebrated in one grand affair.” She unfolded the paper with care, as though the parchment itself was made from gold. ”Who?“ Margaret asked, tho she was already on her feet, grabbing the letter from her mother to read it for herself.
“Why, Lydia Ellis and Klaus Shafer, of course,” their mother said. “And Harrison Davis and Azucena Osuna. What a glorious conclusion to the season!”
That’s when Archie’s eyebrow rose in a surprise. While Azucena used to be a part of his past, he knew she would eventually marry, it was just the name of who she was getting married to that Archie didn’t like. The biggest shock was hearing Lydia’s name. ”Interesting couples,“ Margaret whispered almost to herself, wondering how she missed the signs of them ending up together. ”Lydia, married? I suppose stranger things have happened.“
”She’s never struck me as particularly enthusiastic about the idea,“ Archie said, keeping his tone light, as their mother left the room most likely to find the rest of their family and share the oh so wonderful news. ”Not that it’s any of my concern.“
”And yet you’ve spent more time rescuing her from tedious conversations than you have actually enjoying the season,“ Margo chuckled, getting back to her seat.
”It’s called being a gentleman,“ Archie replied dryly.
His relationship with Lydia had always been one of understanding. She, like him, had little patience for the expectations placed upon them. He had admired her forthrightness, her refusal to let the pressures of society dictate her choices.
{ days before the wedding }
{ all I want is nothing more, to hear you knocking at my door }
The storm outside howled like a feral beast, rattling the windows of the gentlemen’s club as if demanding entry. No one minded the weather outside, all that it was important in that moment was the rich aroma of cigars that mingled with the faint spice of freshly poured scotch. Archie sat at the corner of a polished oak table, shuffling a deck of cards. He was in the middle of a game, his opponents leaning forward in quiet anticipation as he played his hand with the precision and confidence of a man known for his skill. The pile of coins at his side had steadily grown throughout the evening, a testament to his mastery. His expression betrayed nothing, save for the faintest curve of his lips - a smile that seemed to promise triumph and invite despair in equal measure.
“Your turn, Hastingston,” one of the men exclaimed, his voice laced with the forced nonchalance of someone who knew he was losing. He leaned forward, his elbow brushing against his glass of scotch, which wobbled but did not spill. The others around the table watched as Archie laid down his hand, his movements precise… a collective groan rose as the cards revealed their tale. One man tossed his own hand onto the table with a sigh, his shoulders slumping in resignation. Another reached for his drink, muttering something about luck favoring the bold.
“You are unbelievable, Hastingston,” said Lord Bertram, a gentleman whose demeanor could not entirely mask his irritation. “A lesser man would accuse you of sorcery. How is it that you win so consistently?” ”Perhaps,“ Archie replied, his tone light but edged with mischief, ”luck simply prefers me.“
As the game ended, a server approached with a tray of glasses. “Another round of Hastingaton’s scotch,” he announced, setting the drinks down with careful precision. Archie leaned back in his chair, observing as the men raised their glasses. For months he had tried to perfect the blend - now he watched as they savored it, their expressions softening with approval. “Exceptional, truly,” Lord Bertram declared. “You’ve a gift, Hastingston. This will make your fortune, mark my words.” Archie acknowledged the compliment with a faint nod, though his thoughts had already begun to drift. The company, the games… none of it could fill the hollow ache in his chest. It was then that a conversation at the table caught his ear. “A fine property, recently listed,” one man was saying, gesturing to a folio spread open before him. “Prime location, and the house itself is… well, see for yourself.”
Archie’s gaze shifted, drawn despite himself. Rising from his chair, he approached the table, his curiosity piqued. The man’s companion, noticing Archie’s interest, turned the folio toward him. “It might even suit a gentleman like you,” he said. “White facade, a generous porch… quite idyllic, really. My cousin is-” Archie’s breath caught as his eyes fell on the illustration. It was as though a memory had leapt from his mind onto the page. The house was almost exactly as Adelaide had described it: white and graceful, with a wide porch. In the background, a river wound its way through the landscape. He could still hear her voice painting the picture in his mind: “A room overlooking the river so I can paint… and a porch where we can sit in our rocking chairs and laugh about how we managed to live away from society for so long.”
And the realization struck him… What was he doing here, amidst cigars and cards, when the very life he yearned for was slipping through his fingers? Without a word he turned and walked toward the door. His companions called after him, surprised and confused, but he paid no attention to them. The storm greeted him as he stepped outside, the rain drenching him within moments… But he did not care. Archie pulled his coat tighter and began the long walk to Adeline’s house, his heart pounding.
It was late by the time Archie arrived at her door and he was soaked. He was standing on the threshold of everything he had ever wanted and everything he had been too afraid to claim. He approached the door with urgency, his knuckles rapping against the wood as though to shake the very foundation of the house. He struck the door again, harder this time, as if pouring all his pent-up emotion into the act even if it meant waking up the whole family. Finally, the door creaked open, revealing Thea’s cautious face illuminated by the faint glow of a nearby lamp. Her eyes widened as she took in his state and for a moment she clutched the edge of the door as though bracing herself for what might come next. “Lord Hastingston,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s quite late… and the weather—”
”I must speak to her.“ Archie interrupted, his voice hoarse. ”Now. Please.“ Thea hesitated, her grip on the door tightening. She thought of Adelaide upstairs, how fragile she had seemed these past weeks, and how much pain Archie’s name alone could stir. “Lord Hastingston,” she began cautiously, “Miss Adeline is resting, and—” ”I know,“ he said, his voice breaking slightly. ”But I cannot wait… Not another moment. Please, let me see her.“ Thea’s heart ached at his words, but she remained wary. She had been a quiet witness to Adeline’s sorrow and yet, as she studied Archie now, the way he stood there drenched and unguarded she saw something that gave her pause. Thea searched his face for a moment longer and then, with a sigh she stepped aside, opening the door wider to let him in. As Archie crossed the threshold, water dripping onto the polished floor, Thea’s gaze followed him, her heart torn between fear for Adeline and hope that perhaps, just perhaps, this man might finally make things right.
{ The Queen’s Palace / happily ever after }
The view that greeted Archie as he drew back the heavy drapes in his bedroom was serene but it did little to calm his restless thoughts. His valet appeared not long after, carrying a selection of freshly pressed cravats and coats. “The navy, sir,” the man suggested, holding up a finely tailored coat with gold buttons. “A color befitting the occasion.” Archie nodded absently, his mind far from the choice of attire. As his valet fussed over the details, folding his cravat just so, ensuring the shine on his boots was without flaw… Archie’s thoughts wandered.
Wandered to everyone and everything that happened over the year. The way things played out and he never wanted to be a part of any of it but agreed for his sister’s sake.
The Hastingston carriage, a stately affair polished to a mirror like gleam, waited at the front drive. His mother and father were already inside, Lady Hastingston issuing instructions to the coachman about their expected arrival time. Margo appeared moments later, her hand brushing a stray curl from her face as she ascended the steps with practiced elegance, followed by their two brothers.
As they all settled into their seats, split between two carriages, Margo broke the since, almost whispering only to Archie. She was sat next to him and this was not a matter of coincidence but one of silent agreement, for Margaret and Archie had always shared a unique bond, one forged in childhood and strengthened over years of confidences and sly, knowing glances across crowded drawing rooms. ”Do you suppose they’re truly looking forward to this day?“ She asked, her tone laced with that dry humor he had come to expect from her. She leaned slightly closer, her gloved hand brushing against the edge of her gown as if to shield her words from the outside world. ”Such a disaster… everything so dreadfully arranged, like pieces on a chessboard.“ Archie’s lips curved into a faint smile as he turned to her, his dark eyes glinting with quiet amusement. ”We cannot truly know, though I imagine they might be looking forward to the day’s conclusion more than its beginning.“ Margaret chuckled, her amusement genuine. ”And you, dear brother? Do you look forward to it?“ For a moment, Archie’s expression remained inscrutable, At last, he spoke, his voice steady but tinged with that particular humor only Margaret could draw out of him.“I look forward to seeing how it unfolds.” They had always delighted in these quiet exchanges, finding solace in their shared propensity for observation and the occasional gossip.
Once they arrived and made their way to their appointed seats, Archie’s gaze swept the room. He told himself it was casual, that he was merely observing the spectacle… but he was searching for someone. Each face he passed was a disappointment, each step he took heightening his impatience.
@ adie @ couples