Yesterday's Letters

Chapter 1-2

Locating his best friend, Daniel Ellis sank into the chair across from her with a disheartened sigh. Without a word, she pushed a glass across the table. The yellowy-orange smoothie was his weakness, along with cheesecake, and if anyone knew that, it was Heidi Gellar. They’d met in middle school when Heidi pounded a football player for harassing Daniel all because he was gay. Daniel wound up getting the last laugh when a few years later the same football player asked him out on a date. He shouldn’t have said yes. One bad decision had completely screwed up his dating mojo.

“Another dud?” Heidi asked, stirring her iced coffee. She looked absolutely adorable in her peach peasant blouse and a pair of leggings covered in giant bright yellow sunflowers. Her hair was vivid blue, to hide the grays she said, and she didn’t look anywhere near her age. “What happened this time?”

Daniel shrugged. “Does it even matter at this point? I give up. I’m officially cashing in, throwing away my dating credentials, and getting some cats.” He sipped the smoothie. “Crazy cat guys are a thing, right?”

“Don’t stop looking yet.”

“Says the woman who married her high school sweetheart.” Her diamond engagement ring sparkled in the sunlight spilling through the window.

The waitress popped over, depositing on the table a slice of chocolate chip cheesecake and a large cupcake covered in peanut butter frosting. For as long as he could remember, Daniel came to the Sunrise Café with Heidi or met her there, almost always at a table near the window. More often than not, they ate dessert. Once in a while, they actually ordered a decent meal, but today was a sweet tooth kind of day. He dug in, popping a forkful of the decadent treat in his mouth. It didn’t exactly mesh with the flavors of his pineapple-mango smoothie, but Daniel didn’t care. It was delicious, just the thing he needed.

“What if I told you that your luck is about to change?”

Daniel arched a questioning eyebrow. “How so?”

“Well, a little birdie told me…” She let her words dangle, focusing on removing the wrapper from her chocolate cupcake, which was more a tiny cake given its size.

Daniel resisted the urge to reach over and snatch up the treat in hopes of getting more out of her. He could wait her out. Maybe.

“He’s coming back.”

“Who is…” He meant to finish out the question, but a name slipped across his mind and brought him up short.

Can she mean?

Daniel’s heart skipped, the mouthful of cheesecake going down like a lump. He chased it with a big gulp of smoothie, immediately regretting it as he felt the sharp stab of a brain freeze.

“He’ll be back for Jimmy’s funeral.”

Daniel didn’t know what to say, not entirely sure how he even felt. Matthew, the one that got away, the one Daniel always loved from afar, in a manner of speaking. They also met in middle school, Matthew more comfortable and confident in his skin. In a way, he became an inspiration to Daniel. Though they hung out a great deal, Daniel never got around to saying how he truly felt.

That’s sort of a lie. You told Heidi, and there’s the box in your closet.

“Here’s your second chance, Danny,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “Don’t let it slip away.”