Love's Requiem

I must have dozed off for the ride to my apartment because the next thing I knew, Jesse was shaking me to wake me up and we were parked a block down from my building.

“Come on sleeping beauty.” Jesse said shaking me.

“Was I always this bummed out when I came home?” I asked Jesse as we carried my bags down the street.

“I only can remember you were very, very upset when you came back Christmas of 01’, and summer of 03’” He explained.

“That now explains it.” I sighed.

“Why do I get the feeling it’s a good thing I didn’t make any plans till you leave for Baltimore?” He laughed as we got inside.

As soon as we got in to my apartment we sat down to eat the bagels and coffee he brought for us, and I began telling him everything about the trip.

“How awkward must that have been?” He exclaimed when I got to the part about Alex’s birthday.

“Well Luka, Luka is always a sweet heart and it was fine. Niko” I paused, “Niko has always been a different story.”

“You don’t have to remind me.” He mumbled. “Well so did you and them patch everything up?”

“They ambushed me the day after I went to lunch with Luka and he left me and Niko off at this park where him and I talked for an hour or so and made up. And then like every other day we were seeing each other until Christmas. Then Niko stopped by to say goodbye right before we left.” I told him.

“Which might explain why you look happier.”

“I guess, oh shit that reminds me!” I exclaimed jumping up.

“What?”

“He gave me something as I was leaving and told me to not open it till I was home. I guess he didn’t want Alex to see.” I explained as I ran to my backpack and yanked out the envelope and the nesting doll for Jesse to play with.

“Oh sweet I love these things!” He laughed as I handed it to him while I sat down with the envelope.

“Present from Luka.”

“That was cool of him.” He nodded, “So what’s that?” He asked as he began opening the dolls one by one.

“About to find out.” I told him carefully opening the envelope.

The first thing I pulled out was a letter; of course in the spirit of Niko it was written in Croatian. My guess it was because he knew I probably wouldn’t wait and to keep anyone but my brother from understanding what it said.

“Of course it’s not even in English!” Jesse huffed.

“There’s probably a reason for that.” I smiled as I began reading it.

Isabella,
After you left that summer, I had planned to give you this when you came back in December. However, both of us know that didn’t happen. I didn’t feel right giving it to your brother or parents to give this to you because it was something I had to give you. I think after you read this and see what I’m talking about you’ll understand why. I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to have you apart of me again. I missed you; I honestly can say I missed you more than anything. And now, you may not be the same girl I knew then but you are still are Isabella the girl who pushed me to do anything and everything. And for that I owe you so much. You’re beautiful as a person and as a soul you’re so amazing I don’t even think you realize it at times. No matter what I want you to know that I will always be here for you, for anything and everything. I also want to remind you to never forget who you are and where you’re from. Luka and I both noticed at first you seem to do that. But, after a while you came to be the old Isabella again. The Isabella that makes us smile. Your home will always be Croatia, and it will always be a part of who you are. As will I, no matter what Isabella I want you to know that there’s a piece of my heart that will forever be yours. You were my everything at one point, and I will never forget that. I will never forget you. And I only hope you won’t for me. So enough of this mushy crap, have fun Isabella, live life, and keep being that spark you’ve always been. I hope you like what’s in this envelope, at the time it seemed like the greatest thing for you.
Niko

I felt my eyes start tearing as I read the letter carefully.

“Are you okay Bella?” Jesse asked running his hand on my arm.

“Yeah, its just what he wrote.” I stuttered as I put the letter down, and reached in to see what was left in the envelope.

At first I pulled out an old picture of Niko and I when we had to be about 10. We were in my Grandma’s yard playing with a kitten. I couldn’t help but smile and let out a chuckle as I thought about the day that was taken.

“That’s you.” Jesse smiled as I passed the photo to him.

“Yup,” I nodded, reaching in to the last item that was weighing down the envelope.

It was a silver locket, on the font it had a design of flowers and it had “Isabella” on the front. As I opened it, inside there was a picture on both the sides. The first was one of Luka and I as kids it had to have been taken before I ever left Croatia. And the second, the second photo was of Niko and I, and in it he had his arm around me and he was kissing the side of my head.

“Wow.” Jesse said taking it out of my hands to look at the pictures. “Its insane how he had the pictures shrunk down like that.” He added as he closed it. “Hey what does that mean?”
He asked handing it back to me pointing at the back of the locket.

“What does what mean?” I asked confused.

“There’s something in Croatian on the back.” He pointed as I looked closely and read it out loud.

“Ona šetnje u ljepoti.” I read, and then smiled. “She walks in beauty.” I translated.

“You better tell Alex it means best friends forever or something.” He said with a worried expression.

“He got this locket when we were 16.” I explained.

“Oh, so what did the letter say?” He asked me.

“You really want to know?” I asked him.

“Duh.” He chuckled.

“No discussions of this outside of my apartment and it stays between you and I only, okay?” I asked him.

“I swear on my guitar playing.” He nodded, as I began translating to him what the letter had said. “Jesus, you’d think by that he’s still in love with you.” He exclaimed after I finished.

“I guess.” I shrugged.