I lock the door behind me, eager for solitude. The letter I hold in my hands is from Noelle, and the thought of it makes my heart pound like a war drum. I sit on the edge of the bed, my fingers trembling slightly as I tear open the seal. It's been three long weeks without him, and I haven't felt his presence since I left. Just seeing his handwriting again sends a surge of warmth through me.
I unfold the letter carefully, my eyes devouring the words with a hunger I didn't realize had built up so fiercely.
"It's been 3 weeks. This is the first time we've spent time apart, and you're gone for so long. The clothes you left behind, I can barely smell your pheromones, my body no longer aches. I spend my days in the garden and time with Grape. I saw Mona yesterday; she's going to be a seamstress, learning from a local tailor. Ben is Ben. I don't know what else to do. Life without you feels bland. I miss you, hope to see you soon. Your star."
