Leah's POV

Light from the window brightened the back of my eyelids forcing me awake. Groaning, I moved to hide away from the light but something was different. The bed was empty. "Thia?"

No answer. Sighing, I uncovered my head from the pillow I'd hid behind. The light was even brighter now; just my luck. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I glanced around the room. There was no sign of Thia anywhere.

Right. She left this morning. A weight settled in my stomach and a gentle anger washed over me. I couldn't be too upset. I knew it was happening and yet she'd still bothered to take care of me.

Shaking my head something caught my peripheral vision. The nightstand was empty except for one thing, an envelope. Reaching over I took it in my hands and saw Thia's sloppy handwriting on the front. It read For Leah.

Curiosity got the best of me and I undid the tab of the envelope pulling out a long letter. Unfolding it, a picture fell into my lap. Picking it up I turned it over in my hands.

It was a picture I hadn't seen before. It was from this morning. I couldn't help but smile as I studied it. Thia was awake with an arm tucked under me the other clearly outstretched and holding the camera. She had a soft smile on her face despite it being early in the morning. I was obviously asleep, curled into her with my face hidden in her shoulder.

The bottom read; Wondergirl's Supergirl

Gods she was such a dork. Setting the picture aside I straightened out the letter to read what she'd written.

You're probably mad I didn't say goodbye and I apologize. You looked so peaceful sleeping, and after all that happened last night I didn't want to wake you up. It seemed unfair.

Anyways, thanks for last night, it's the nicest sleep I've had in a while. I don't know whether my parents will let you stay permanently or not, I doubt they'd just throw you to the wolves, but you could try my Uncle Frank if all else fails. He's a sweet heart and so is my Aunt Hazel. Emily, my cousin, is really cool too. She's younger than I am by a bit but she makes up for it in enthusiasm.

And to finish my rambling I guess I have one thing left to say. I don't want you getting hung up on me. I want you to be happy and loved and cared for. If someone else can give you the moon don't worry about me. Go get 'em. But if you're willing to wait then I would probably love you more than I already do.

I'm sorry it took me so long to realize my feelings and how clueless I've been. I was never used to the kind of attention and companionship you gave me. Before I met you or Andy I was an outcast. It's a bit ironic considering my parents, but no one wanted me. I didn't have any powers, I was a fluke, a mistake, an accident. There was something wrong with me.

To have someone like you ignore that and to willingly risk your life for me went against all of the programming I'd been put through. I'd been trained to doubt myself because of other people, to be careful in who I talked to, and to be afraid. Everyone who knew me besides Marianna was unkind and I expected that from everyone. I used to have a mantra; "Be kind to others but don't expect such affections in return." You on the other hand, and Andy, taught me more about myself than I knew was possible.

What I'm trying to say is that I'd never really felt platonic love before outside of my family. I couldn't separate platonic love from romantic love if my life depended on it because I didn't know what either was. It's like asking someone to differentiate between red and green when they're color blind.

I had to pause in my reading to laugh for a moment. Only Thia would make an analogy like that.

But I realized when Tyler decided you weren't enough that he was impossibly wrong. I could see you as so much more than someone would when it came to a normal friend. I saw you differently than I saw Andy.

I care for Andy deeply, he's brave, charming, daring, sarcastic, and even annoying. All I can say for his looks is that he's handsome. (Don't ever tell him I said that).

Then there's you. The more I think about it the stupider I feel for not realizing how I felt sooner. You're pretty but not how Tyler saw you. Not because you looked good on someone's arm, or because you have nice eyes or a smile. (You do, but that's not the point). You were stunning in your confidence, in your decision to be kind, and your ability to see the best in people. Even someone who thought as little of themselves as me.

While your personality is amazing your looks were equal. I noticed more than the color of your hair or eyes. A long time ago I noticed the slight upturn of your nose, how the very ends of your eyelashes are lighter than the rest, or how your hair tries to curl at the ends.

I guess you should take comfort in the fact that it'll be impossible to forget those details even in my travels.

In all, I pray it's a year of prosperity for both of us. You in your leadership and me in my pursuits. I want you to have the best. I apologize for getting so off track but I have one thing to ask of you.

While I've made it clear that you should do what makes you happy and you find someone worth all the stars in the sky you should pursue them, will you wait for me? If you can find it in yourself to do so I beg that you do.

I can't tell you when exactly I'll return but I won't be a silent, distant phantom. I'll write and Iris message whenever I can. I know you deserve more but that's all I can offer at the moment. I only ask for you to wait if it's in your power to do so because I won't be gone forever. I will come back.

That much I promise you. I will come home.

Love,
~Thia

It was hard to swallow the lump in my throat but I managed to do so. Folding up the letter I tucked it safely away along with the picture. Thia was coming back. Eventually. For that I could wait.

My thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on the door. The hinges creaked as it opened to reveal Reyna, former praetor, and most importantly Thia's Mom. "Hey. How are you holding up?"

"Pretty good." My throat was dry leaving my voice scratchy.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yeah. Just a letter." I gestured to the carefully folded piece of paper tucked under the edge of the lamp on the bedside table. There was a knowing gleam in her eyes and I assumed she knew Thia had written it.

"Well, breakfast is ready if you want any. Thals and I talked. The house is gonna be really quiet without Thia around and honestly I'm not used to having little company. You're free to stay as long as you'd like." I hadn't expected them to agree to Thia's proposition. Let alone to let me stay for so long, but part of me knew why.

The three of us were all going to be pretty damn lonely without her. We might as well be together. I couldn't help but smile. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

That morning I sat down to a nice breakfast for once. One where I wasn't being talked over or shoved out of the way. I wasn't uncomfortable or awkward. There wasn't any arguing over seats, or fighting for seconds. The best part was that the food was still warm.

In all honesty? I was...happy. And that morning was the first of many to follow .