"Carnations are beautiful. They mean many different things, but usually they signify love. However, striped carnations on the other hand, signifies love that will never come true. It signifies rejection." - Eleven, Striped Carnations.
"Please send sympathy flowers for me. Striped Carnations are what I want. They are perfect for the event." -Sol, Striped Carnations.
Candy looks at the back of the picture. "Sol and Eleven, February 12, 1990, Mr. and Ms. Valentine Winner." is written.
She then picks up the envelope and opens it; to which a letter was inside together with a dried heather lavender flower squashed between the envelope.
Candy then opens the letter. The letter has a heading, and it heads: "Bonn, this is my explanation for my absence. I'm sorry, please don't tell Eleven about this letter. Please take care of her well. This Heather Lavender is her last remembrance."
Start.
June 20, 1990. To Bonn.
I have a very good life. My parents love me, they tender to my needs. My girlfriend is kind, she's pretty and smart too. I have lots of friends, and all of them are always there to be in my back, holding out for me.
I want you to keep this letter a secret from Eleven. Instead, I want you take care of her. You love her, don't you?
I want you to take care of her the way I did.
Take her to Briggs and Martin's at night. Sing her a song. I heard she likes Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling In Love".
Her eyes sparkle whenever she hears that song. She once said, that the song "speaks to her".
Go with her on carnivals. I heard she loved those. She would laugh out loud whenever we do the shooting games and whenever we ride the rides.
Take her to the top of the Science Building at night. She likes the night breeze and the view of the stars there. She would always lay her head on my chest and we would talk and laugh all night.
I'm so sorry that I wrote this letter so late. I couldn't have written this letter. For more than a month I couldn't talk. I was in a coma. I'm ordering someone to write this letter for me. As for the moment, I am barely talking.
On the day of the graduation, Eleven and I parted ways. I wanted to return home.
I couldn't make it back home.
At this point on, the story proceeds in the third person's point of view.
The date is March 12, 1990. 3 PM. Sol's flight is due for departure on 5:00 PM. Eleven's boat ride is due on 4:00 PM.
Sol and his parents check-in their baggage on the airport's security check. It's two hours before departure. They probably came early, too early actually.
It pains Sol to know that it will take months before they will meet again with Eleven. If only they could meet at an earlier date.
Sol only knows how to contact Eleven through their home address. Only letters would make his voice heard and her embrace, felt.
In a world of lost communication and yearning, a moment without Eleven is Sol's demise. It'll take months before we'll meet again. Sol thinks to himself.
"Sol, I'm grabbing some souvenirs on that shop." Sol's mother points on a souvenir shop in the corner.
"Sure. I'd like it if I can go pick something for my friends, too." Sol replies as they stand up and start walking to the shop.
Sol looks at his watch. 3:14 PM. Less than two hours left before departure. Less than an hour left before Eleven rides a boat back home.
He looks at the brightly lit neon signs on the souvenir shop. "Tropica Island Souvenirs" it says.
Slowly, Sol browses through the selections. His mom does the same. Slippers with tropical aesthetics, with different colors. Sunset orange, leaf green, ocean blue, and more. On another side were T-Shirts with "I Love Tropica Island" marked using different fonts and colors.
Finally, in one corner of the shop, he spots something familiar.
Moon bracelets— just like Eleven's.
"Excuse me, miss." Sol asks the store employee. "Can these moon bracelets be engraved?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can I get one? And can you engrave 'Sol' on it?"
"Sure, sir. Just fifteen minutes."
Sol looks at the time. 3:26 PM.
He's giddy. He feels like he wants to rush through the airport's exits. A second feels like a minute just like how a minute feels like an hour. The more you want something done, the more it feels like an eternity.
"Here, sir."
Sol grabs the moon bracelet. "Mom, I've got something to do, I'll come back later okay?" Sol shouts while he runs through the doors.
"Wha— what?" Sol's mom exclaims. "Okay honey, just be sure not to be late okay?"
Sol runs through the exit like it's the end of the world. He slips out the gate and grabs a taxi.
"The port, please." He exclaims. "and please hurry up."
The taxi rushes over. Everything feels like a race. He feels like this is the last mission of his life. He imagines what it would be like to see Eleven again.
Will I act cool, like "Wassup, Eleven?" he thinks to himself.
"Too tacky." He shrugs his shoulders.
Will I act cute like, "Eleven, it's me, S-O-L your L-O-V-E"
Sol cringes at the though. "Too weird and— and eeky."
What would I be then? Will I be a romantic and grab some flowers for her? He imagines the thought, to which he found agreeable. In that sudden moment, he found a flower shop in the corner of the street.
"Can we please stop here for a moment?" He asks the taxi driver.
"Sure, sir."
They pull up and Sol runs inside the flower shop. The store's chime makes a sound as he opens the door.
3:46 PM. Sol looks at his watch.
He smells the flowers' fragrance wafting the area.
"Can I have flowers that signify loneliness and admiration?" he asks the florist.
"Quite an odd match," the florist exclaims as he walks through the batch of flowers on his shop. "An odd match but a possible one."
The florist grabs a heather lavender. "Here. Do you want me to wrap its stems?"
"Sure."
The florist wraps everything up and Sol pays for the flowers. He exits the store and runs outside. 3:51 PM.
"Straight to the port, please." He exclaims as he opens the taxi door and heads inside.
"Sure, sir."
3:57 PM. They arrive at the port. He goes directly to the docking boats. He watches as people walk inside.
He searches for Eleven. He searches each and every passenger. He can't find Eleven.
Two more minutes pass, all passengers go in the boar. "Any more passengers?" the crew asks. "No more?"
Sol turns his back away. He slowly walks to the gate in disappointment. Suddenly, a girl shouts. "Wait for me!"
Eleven. It's Eleven's voice.
"Glad you got here exactly on time, miss." The crew exclaims.
Sol turns his back. It really is Eleven. She's wearing an all white outfit with her hair covering half her face. Even when stressed, she really is beautiful.
"W—wait." He exclaims.
Eleven looks at the direction of the voice. He sees Sol.
"Sol?" she asks in confusion while smiling looking at Sol's face. "I thought you were going back home?"
"I still— I still am." He nervously struggles while he keeps the flowers on his back. He is shaking and sweating profusely. Acting romantic my ass, nervous and awkward was the correct answer. He talks to himself.
"Uhmm— I was actually wondering. If you'd like some flowers?"
"Flowers?"
"Yes."
"What kind of flower?"
"A Heather lavender. It signifies loneliness and affection." Sol answers as he shows his hidden hand holding the flowers. His hand shakes nervously.
"That's quite contrasting." Eleven receives the flowers. "Thanks." Eleven exclaims as she smiles and smells the flowers. "Was that all?"
"Actually— I was wondering if you'd like to meet again under the tree on the university park. March 30, 12 PM."
"Sure."
"Ehemm—" the crew interrupts. You two lovebirds hurry up. We've got a boat to run here.
Sol chuckles. So does Eleven. "We're sorry." Sol apologizes.
"Eleven," Sol grabs Eleven's hand.
"Promise me, you'll never forget me, okay?"
"Okay." Eleven answers as Sol kisses her hand.
"By the way, I've got this for you." Sol says as he grabs something from his pocket.
"What's that?"
"A moon bracelet. It's yours. My name is on it. Let's swap our moon bracelets when we meet again next time."
"Sure." Eleven smiles brightly at Sol.
At this point on, the point of view switches to Sol in his letter.
Those were the very last moments I saw her, Bonn. The very veins of her hands, the slight blush of her eyes. The biggest grin she gave me. Those were the very last moments I saw her. I slowly walked outside that port that day expecting nothing. I grabbed a taxi back to the airport.
I looked at the windows. Rain started to fall. The driver's road visibility went bad. Everyone runs out to seek shelter.
I still remember the song playing back then.
Point of View is Sol's, but not as Sol writing the letter to Bonn but as Sol himself.
Now Playing: Every Time You Go Away (1985) by Paul Young
Hey!, if we can solve any problem
Then why do we lose so many tears
Sol is reminded of the very first moments they met. Her red dress, her timid smile.
Oh, and so you go again
When the leading man appears
The very time he sang Eleven a song on a date.
Always the same thing
Can't you see, we've got everything goin' on and on and on
The time they went to the rooftop and went star gazing.
Every time you go away you take a piece of me with you
"Do you promise me that you'll never leave me?"
"I promise."
Every time you go away you take a piece of me— A loud noise interrupted the song.
The song never finished. The windows break. The taxi car rolls around in recoil. A ten-wheeler truck hits the very taxi car.
Everything went hazy. Everything went red. My hands are covered in glass shards. People scream, my ears tingling from the noise. I blacked out.
At this point on, the point of view switches to Sol in his letter.
I just woke up from a coma. I still remember that dreaded day. I still remember the pain in my body.
With this situation of mine, I can't meet Eleven. Ever.
I can't meet her with like this.
That is why Bonn, I want you to take care of her. Take of her like I did. Take care of her as if your life is on the line. Don't ever hurt her. Promise me that.
Inside the letter is Eleven's last shards of her moon bracelet. I held unto it until the end. I'm giving it back to you.
If ever you want to visit me, I live in this address. End of Letter.
Candy closes the letter. She is petrified. She puts the letter back, under the envelope, a shard falls out. Only the letters L and E part from Ellen are left of the bracelet. She's in shock. Staring at the bracelet, Candy calls for Ellen from the other room.
"Ellen," no answer.
"Ellen?" no answer.
"Ellen!"
Ellen rushes to the room. "What's the matter?" Ellen asks.
"Where is Sol?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know. He never responded to any of my mails."
"Read this."
The point of view shifts to Ellen (Eleven)
I walk outside the taxi. A huge gate welcomes me.
I want to ring the doorbell, but I can't. I don't have the strength to.
I still miss him. After 30 years of not meeting him, I miss him— a lot.
I gathered up courage. My shaking fingertips hastily rings the doorbell.
Five minutes later, a maid opens the gate's small manhole in comparison to the gate's huge stature.
"Who's this?"
"Is this Sol's residence?"
"Who's that?"
"I thought this was Sol's house?"
"Yes, this is the Sol's residence, but who is this?"
"Eleven."
"Eleven? That's familiar." The maid thinks for a while. Then, her eyes broaden and she hastily changes her demeanor.
"Oh, miss Eleven. We've been waiting."
"Waiting?"
"Yes, waiting. You are here for sir Sol right?" The maid chuckles. "So you're Eleven, right? You are prettier than what I imagined.
"You know me?"
"Of course! Sir Sol talks about you a lot in his letters."
"Letters?"
"Yes, he secretly writes letters in his room, and I—" the maid chuckles. "I secretly read them. Don't tell him though."
So he never forgot me. Eleven thinks to herself.
They went inside the mansion after that long walk in the front lawn. The house is as big as a mansion— probably a mansion by itself.
They climb the wooden stairs as big as a house. On the second floor are many rooms, with names written on the sides of the doors. One door had "Leo" on its names. On the very end was a very big and rustic door.
"Sol" Eleven reads the door aloud.
"He's inside, probably drinking his afternoon coffee." The maid informs Eleven.
Eleven slowly walks to the proximity of the door. When she's in front of the door, she slowly grabs the handle and opens it.
A blinding light blinds her vision. Suddenly, as Eleven's eyes adjust to the light, he saw a figure. A man in a wheelchair, with white hair.
"Sol?" Eleven asks the figure.
The figure slowly rotates his wheelchair. What Eleven saw was dreadful.
In front of her was Sol. His face was full of scars. His eyes full of melancholy; while tears slowly fall down from his eyes. Her eyes fill with tears too.
"Eleven?" Sol replies, unable to stand with both feet amputated. End.
My promises, are embodied with me. I will never forget them. Ever.
-Sol, Heather Lavender (2020).