Fan Fiction ❯ Of Earth and Fire ❯ Roger. February 6, 1974 ( Chapter 6 )

ROGER. February 6, 1974

 

Dear Addy,

 

How's college? It's going fine for me. I haven't dropped my Algebra class yet, which is a miracle. Majoring is Biology is extremely difficult, but I'm really enjoying it. My professor is a genius. Her name is Dr. Anderson. I'm learning a lot. Getting my work done too, I promise. My roommate is an art major from Ohio. He's a little strange, I'm not gonna lie. His name is George Johnson…and with a name like that you can't be all that exciting. He's hung seven canvases on our dorm wall. I choose to ignore them which is an easy task to accomplish since I spend most of my time out and about anyway.

 

So what have you been up to? I hope you are enjoying your time at Texas State. How's the weather this time of year? Hot? It's beautiful here. Addy, New York is everything I imagined it would be. I love it here. The sounds, the smells, the sights…it's all amazing. I went out to Liberty Island last week and climbed the Statue of Liberty. The inside, of course. They wouldn't let me scale it from the outside. I also spent several hours last weekend just wandering around Manhattan. I can't even describe it. You'll have to come up here sometime, maybe this Christmas. Or New Years for the ball drop. You should see Times Square all lit up at nighttime. It's like the sun shining from all around it's so bright. And it is never quiet, never dead, never gray.

 

I haven't heard from you since we left, so I thought I would see what you have been up to. I hope this letter reaches you. If I do not hear back from you then I will assume that I have the wrong address. I will not even consider that you read my letter and threw it away because I know you could not do that. I know you too well. If, however, you choose not to write back, I will not continue to bother you with my letters. If you do not wish to hear from me again, then you need not reply. That way I can assume that my letter never made it to you.

 

Please remember how much your friendship really does mean to me. I hope that I will get to see you soon.

 

All my sincerity,

Roger Davis Preston

 

 

Or just Rog.

 

I lay my pen down on my small desk that is parallel to the foot of my small bunk, and take a look over the letter. Everything sounds alright…I suppose. Not wanting to spend all night trying to perfect Addy's letter, I fold it neatly into thirds and slide it slowly into the white envelope. I scoot the wooden chair back noisily and stand up, glancing over at George, who is fast asleep on my bottom bunk. With a sigh, and grab my jacket and walk, with little attempt to keep quiet, out the door.

 

The dorm halls are nearly empty, most people asleep or out partying. I hold the envelope tightly in my hand as if it were a lifeline as I walk determinedly down the stairs and out to the rows of mail slots. I look for mine and find it. Third row from the bottom, second to last. I casually slide the paper in the slot and shut the small door, glancing through the glass door into the city-lit night. I smile, picturing this scene as opposed to looking through my bedroom window in Wimberley, Texas. Dark. Gray. A small chuckle escapes me as I stare incessantly at the clouded, light sky.

 

Before I can control it, my mind is suddenly back in Wimberley, sitting on the bridge looking into that dark night sky with Addy's head on my shoulder and the smile leaves my face.

 

Without another thought on the matter, I turn and swiftly walk back to my room. George is still in my bunk, and I find fighting it futile. I climb into his bunk and close my eyes, forcing myself to sleep before I can think of her again.