Prompt:

You guys were asked to write a letter from Eleanor to Charlotte three years from where the epilogue left off. So here's Charlotte's letter to Eleanor: 

Dear Eleanor,

It's been a while. 

Six years, to be exact. 

I never wrote back to you before because I was unsure about a few things myself. I didn't know if it was going to work. If Louis and I were actually going to work.

He seemed so confident about it, but me? After everything that had happened in the span of a year, how could I expect anything to turn out alright for once? That's right, I couldn't. And so I didn't.

But Louis proved me wrong. He's given me everything I've ever wanted and more and proved to me that maybe it's all worth it. Maybe your engagements, maybe they're only mere stepping stones. You're heading to a bigger world, one that brings you all the happiness you'd ever want in forms you'd never expect. So let me share with you what life has brought to me.

We have a son. 

His name's Oliver and he's four years old now. It's fair to say that he's a carbon copy of his father, mischievous, smart, and adorable. Louis and I visited an adoption agency a few months ago and guess what? We're eligible for adopting a child. It seems as if all of my wishes are coming true. And the best news yet?

I'm expecting. 

I haven't told Louis yet, I haven't found the right moment. Tomorrow's Christmas, so maybe I can tell him then. I guess what I'm trying to say is that things are only going to go uphill from here. For you and me both. You deserve to be happy Eleanor, because you care about the happiness of others. Don't give me so much credit for being selfless and whatnot, because so are you. You deserve someone who will care for you just as you care for the ones you love.

My friends are happy. 

To be truthful, this is the one of the biggest gifts I could receive. Harry's been with Alice for a year now, and they're going strong. Niall and Monica--as cute as ever. And Danielle's expecting her second child with Liam as well. Maybe this sounds weird, but you're also my friend, Eleanor. We've had some rough times, but you're one of the reasons I'm the person I am today. So for that reason, I can't forget about you like you asked. We should never forget, Eleanor, because every memory is like a puzzle piece. Without one; life is incomplete. 

Father and I spoke. 

I went to drop off my wedding invitation and you'll never believe it Eleanor, he actually came. Maybe it didn't exactly patch up our relationship completely, but it meant more to me than he'll ever know. He's still my father, and no matter how much I try sometimes, I can never hate him. The wedding was fantastic, and I understand why you couldn't make it, you had family matters to take care of, so don't feel bad. And I heard from the boys about the trip you took to visit Henry. I don't know how to thank you. He's special to me, and until I figure out a way to bring him closer to where I am, I'm glad that he has someone.

 So please, have hope. 

You'll find him, and you should trust me when I tell you to believe it. I'm living proof, aren't I? Despite all odds, here we are, six years later, together.

Have hope and take care of yourself, Eleanor, and one day you'll find the person who will take care of you.

  Love,

                Charlotte.

WINNING ENTRY: @Salollol

Dearest Charlotte,

We all have our moments when we just lapse and don't respond for a while and here I am writing, to reply to this letter after so long.

Yet during these lapses, things change whether small or large and for me these last 3 years have been the most eventful.

Louis was certain about you for a reason Charlotte- he loves you and when somebody loves another they will do everything in their power to make them theirs. That's what he did Charlotte, and look where you are now. And maybe you're not completely right about the stepping stones. My engagements have been rather important factors in who I am today. They weren't stepping stones, oh no, they were boulders. But it was up to me, it was up to me whether to decide to make a bridge or a wall. Remember you're the architect of your life, you make what you want.

To prove you and Louis were definitely made for each other, you had a child. A child, one of the most magnificent things about life. He'll grow up to be a wonderful boy, you can even tell it by his name. Oliver means affectionate, peaceful, beautiful and dignified just like you and Louis, I know you are going to raise him to be a handsome young man. Maybe you can even adopt Henry, I'm sure he'll love that but more about him later.

You're expecting? I'm completely thrilled, but through this pen and paper I can't show you my complete joy. Telling Louis isn't the most difficult of task since he is so easy-going but do it when you're comfortable. Not when others tell you too. Yes, I agree with you one million times, things are certainly going uphill. How can I not give you credit when you helped shape who I am today? It's like taking a photo, Charlotte. When you first zoom in on something before you take the shot, its blurry and unfocused. Before you walked in that's what my life was, unreal in a sense. Then after a few seconds the comers focuses and shows a beautiful, clear shot of your photo. In the beginning, when you first walked in, I thought of you as a threat but now, I realize, you're the one who made the picture clear for me.

You're right Charlotte, but it's not only the memories...it's the people as well. Without one person, the puzzle with be incomplete but with them, you can hang that puzzle up and show the world without fear. I am so sad that I couldn't make it to your wedding, the boys and Danielle sent me heaps of pictures, but that was before you sent me that gorgeous album. I have that on display on my shelf in the living room. You were beautiful, like every other day. I'm glad to hear about your father, at least you're somewhere with him. Better now than never right? Henry is amazing, he deserves so much more than where he is now so by complete accident, I may or may not have told Henry you would adopt. I'm really sorry, it was all in the moment and it slipped before I could stop myself. But consider it please, I know you, Louis, Oliver, the new baby and Henry would make a beautiful family.

Everyone is happy, I agree. I have literally been dying to tell you this but I decided it would be nicer if I waited a bit.

I'm getting married.

I found him Charlotte, I finally found the perfect man, the man of my dreams. To this letter, I have attached a wedding/engagement invitation and I'm hoping you'll be able to come with Louis. Funny enough, if you can't make it, I'll change the date just so you can. It took a long time and countless dates but I can feel it, he will be my Louis.

I want you to be my maid of honour

And to add to it? I'm expecting too, I'm not really proud I got pregnant before the marriage but I am thrilled to be holding something precious at this very moment. I want to name something that reminds me of you so I'm going with the name Arthur if it's a boy. Arthur means Bear Hero- you remind me so much of a bear in the right ways. You're fierce, bold and unstoppable yet during the right times peaceful, calm and loving. And by far you're a hero. You risked your own happiness to make others lives better so for now do me a favour Charlotte, and focus on yourself. You need it too. 

There are so many things I want to thank you for:

For making me realize, being possesive isn't going to get me anywhere
Teaching me that letting go can be so rewarding in the right situations
Being my friend during the countless things we've been through
Never letting go of the rope that is the bridge between us and insanity
Teaching me that no matter how bad things get, no matter how destroyed something is you can still fix it. And if there are scars? So what, show them off to the world because they make you who you are. They complete yourself.

Take care, Charlotte.

~ Eleanor

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This fantastic letter was written by the wonderful Sarah (@Salollol). All of the entries were so good that it was honestly the toughest thing to choose. I want to thank everyone who entered the contest and everyone who has ever supported me and this book. This book is important to me because not only was it my first, but I poured my heart into it. I hope that you'll remember Charlotte and you'll remember reading about her life, because it's become part of mine.