I slowly walk back to the lodging area, and I don't open up the letter yet. Somehow, it seems to go against the words she said if I open it now. My steps are slow, too slow, but I try my best to bear it. Unable to bear it for long, I decide against the slow walking in favor of a faster run, and when I reach the cots, I'm panting heavily, depleted of any energy I had earlier, but it's worth it. I reach my cot, climb in, and read when my eyes finally adjust to the dim lighting.

All of a sudden I want to laugh, cry, yell, and brag all at the same time. There's a yes, and no, and also a strange what is she thinking? all mixed together in my head. A few stray tears fall from my eyes, and I realize that I've been waiting to hear something, anything, like this. Relief washes over me, and I realize that my hand is shaking so badly I can't write.

It's just going to have to wait till tomorrow, I think regretfully, and attempt to fall asleep. My body is tired as it ever was, but my mind is full of energy. I can't sleep, but my body is still shaking uncontrollably. I wish I could just go to sleep, but my brain refuses to shut down. So internally, I compose the letter I will write in the morning and memorize as much of it as possible.

When I first saw you, I didn't know how to react. In my terrible life I had no hope whatsoever.

This is the only way I can think of to write this. YOU are my hope. My life. My sunshine. In this dark world, I don't give up because I know you'll be there.

I want to say it too. I can't even say it in here because I want you to first, before I write it.

But I will say this. You are now my only tie to life—the most precious one I'll ever have, and the one I will treasure forever.

When I wake up, I take a dirtied piece of paper and jot the note down as fast as I can before it goes beneath my bed. I leave for breakfast, hoping there's going to be some food left. Hope dashed, I start work on an empty stomach. But it's not the normal work day. Today, I have more energy than usual, and she is all I think about all day.

*****************************************************************************************************

When sunset comes and everyone is heading for their cots, I bound over the hill with my letter in hand, folded more carefully than I ever folded before.

She is there.

I take in a deep breath.

And the plane flies over the fence.

She looks up at it, perhaps in wonder, and lets it glide past. I can almost hear her thoughts: You didn't judge me? I only wrote that in the letter because I wanted it to be true... I wonder why you still replied to me?

I want to reassure her, but I don't know how. The only thing I can do is smile at her, my face filled with warmth. I watch her pick up the letter and read it, her fingers shaking a little. Her eyes scan down the page, and I see a few tears slide down her pale cheeks.

"I..." I start, but then I stop. I can't find any words. I don't even know what I meant to say. I look at the ground as if that will take away the awkwardness in the moment.

I look up for a moment, just in time to see her open up her mouth, freeze for a moment, and then close it again. We're probably both rendered speechless by the fact that we actually feel the way we do. For a few minutes, there is nothing but silence between us, but it's a kind of silence I'm not used to—the kind where there is mutual understanding between the two groups. I am enjoying this silence, and only after some time is it broken.

"I didn't think you'd take me seriously," she says. "I didn't expect..." She trails off, but I know what she meant. I didn't expect that you'd ever return them.

"Well," I said. "Um... well... I meant that letter... but..." I don't know what to say anymore. Somehow, the moment has drained all my words from my brain. There are only three left, a single sentence, and I blurt it out as best I can. "I love you."

With that, a gate has closed behind us. Lightning has struck and there is no way to turn back, no way to take back our choices. There is a new beginning for us, one where there is no hiding, no secrets.

She looks at me, and fearlessly states, "I love you too."

Even though I read the words before, the sentence still hits me harder than any whip I've ever experienced. We're both silenced again, and the wind blows gently as if to congratulate us.