She thinks better of it. She will burn this. That is her intention, even as she whispers his name over the parchment, a wave of her hand scrambling letters about the page. There will be no other eyes on her words; author and reader the only eyes able to make out the writing. Merlin and all gods past and future, why did she write any of this? It doesn't matter; she sets this aside, as she has every ill-advised confession.
I should not send you this, and perhaps, you will be angry that I have. Perhaps that would be kinder, knowing that I earned your disdain. It would be better than fretting about your safety. And yet, who am I to assume such worries? I have no right to know of your condition; I have no right to you at all. It is not my place, and yet...
Oh, my dearest Sam, how I worry for you.
I beg your forgiveness even as I long for word of you. Show mercy to a heart too fond and tell me you are safe.
T.L.
Unfortunately, no known spell can retract an owl's message. This lesson was learned by Themis Lyra when she woke to a tidied, empty desk after her first restless night away from Hogwarts for holiday. The scraps of parchment meant for the fire read:
In truth, fair Samuel, I am too fond.
Funny that my mind wanders to Shakespeare at such a time. I will not assume – but I would wager – you know the name.
It doesn’t matter, does it?
It doesn’t matter if you know Shakespeare. I don’t know if you are safe.
’you are safe’ why waste words when ‘you’re’ is sufficient?
Why am I writing this?
You will never read what I will never send.
Is it less pathetic if I beg you in silence? Is it less shameful to worship you if you never know?
There are so many things for you to know.
It is safe, then, to say how dearly I miss you. I miss you, Sam. I miss you, and I was not prepared for the weight of your absence. How could I prepare when I crave and mourn simultaneously?
I mourn your absence. I crave your presence.
Desire seems so simple a beast until sleep begins to elude you.
I will not ask why, I am not so simple, but how? How have you, Dear Sam, changed me so completely?
![[Image: Bka0H0x.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/Bka0H0x.jpeg)