Letter From You

 Her mother had repeated the story several times already, yet it never lost its appeal. Although she knew every little detail of this tale, the gleam in the narrator’s eyes and the excited gestures brought it new life every time. Even as a child, she asked her mother to tell her the story of her eighteenth birthday every night before bed.

Kiara had grown up believing that receiving her letter on her eighteenth birthday would be a magical moment. After all, she had heard many times now about how her mother had found out about the man she would marry, her now-husband, through the letter from the future. Every time her parents glanced at each other, she saw their love soften their glances and warm their expressions. If the letter could give her mother such a wonderful blessing, what could it give Kiara?

Everyone knew that a letter would reach their mailbox on their eighteenth birthday, addressed to them from their future selves. Sometimes, it was written from a mere few weeks in advance. In some special circumstances, it may even be from decades ahead.

When her older brother, born just three years before her, received his letter, it was every bit as magical as her mother had her believe. It spoke of him going to his dream college, making many new friends, and having a wildly successful career in aeronautical engineering.

A few days later, he received his acceptance letter to the very same college. Kiara had never seen her brother get emotional before, but he had burst into tears when he read it. She couldn’t help but grin widely at the scene.

Her eighteenth birthday was soon approaching. A few of her friends had gotten their letters over the summer, and she had been regaled by many stories about happy marriages, sensational fame, and prosperous jobs. Everyone listened in silent awe as the newest letter-receiver bragged about what was written in those bright white papers, imagining what their own might say.

Well, she wouldn’t have to imagine any longer. Kiara tapped her foot impatiently, party hat slightly askew on her head as she finished her last bite of pineapple cake. Her eighteenth birthday party had come and gone, friends and family arriving for the huge celebration. She had received many questions about her letter, but had to awkwardly explain that it hadn’t arrived yet.

This wasn’t unusual, of course. Letters could arrive at any time in the day, whether at the crack of dawn or during the cold and silent night. Yet, Kiara couldn’t help but feel nervous as she ate a second serving of cake. All the partygoers had long since left. She heard her parents moving around in the kitchen while cooking dinner. Sitting alone near the front door, she felt anxious about its eventual arrival.

Suddenly, she heard a strange sound. A loud buzzing sound rang outside the door, like a swarm of very angry bees. It ended just as quickly as it began, and a letter in a black envelope shot into the house through the flap for mail.

Kiara stood up abruptly from her comfortable spot on the couch, cake abandoned on the side. She ran towards the door as she shouted for her parents. They could be heard speaking excitedly in muffled voices as they made their way to where she waited with the envelope in her hand, bright smiles on their faces matching hers.

The birthday girl couldn’t wait a moment longer. Her hands shook slightly as she inspected the smooth ebony outer covering, no address or stamp to show who it belonged to. But she knew in her heart that she had to be the one to open it.

The plain red seal broke easily, and several white sheets slid out. The envelope fluttered to the ground as Kiara began to read the words on the sheet with anticipation.

Yet, as her eyes roved over the page, they seemed to grow wider and wider. Her smile faded and her fingers tightened, crumpling the paper. She shuffled through the pages, too quick to read them, and began to look deathly terrified.

Watching this change of expression occur in real time, her parents grew worried. They remained silent for a moment, before moving around to stand behind her so they could read the message as well.

It was so silent you could hear a penny drop. Her mother’s eyes welled up in tears. Her father was stone-faced, but his clenching and shaking fists betrayed his true emotions.

Every single one of the pages was blank.