The Accidental Love Letter by Olivia Beirne

Author:Olivia Beirne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2019-10-16T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

My damp fingers clasp on my phone, leaving small swirls of moisture on my screen as I walk through the street and the week replays itself in my mind. Somehow, I made it to Friday without combusting under the pressure of lying to everyone I know.

I wince as the cold wind strikes my bare skin and I look at a small town house, draped in Christmas lights and flashing invitingly. If I concentrate, I can almost hear the house singing to me. Every house down this street is decked in lights, with fat little figures propped outside, their mechanical arms juddering back and forth in an odd waving motion. The house at the end of the street has a plump Santa who shouts hello every time somebody walks past.

Needless to say, I almost wet myself the first time it shouted at me.

I spot Sunfields, the only house on the street not shimmering under the sparkle of Christmas lights. As I look at it, I feel my chest expand.

I’m going back. For the first time, I am willingly going back on my own accord. Not under the pretence of doing a good deed, or helping Nina. Or even helping Nathan. I don’t need to go back. I’ve done what I said I’d do. I could just disappear and write the entire thing off as a weird memory.

But I haven’t. I’m going back. I push my hands further into my coat pockets.

I’m going back because I want to see them. I want to see Nina and Gus. In a weird way, I almost want to see Sylvia.

When I last arrived at Sunfields, my body was in knots. It was as if I was made of rubber, and a child had pulled at my limbs, stretched my organs and moulded me into a contorted shape. I jerked and twitched under the pressure of holding my body still, but it felt unnatural. I wasn’t supposed to be that way.

But then I started talking to them. And as I did, my body unfolded itself. Slowly, the knots unravelled. I spoke to Gus for hours. I don’t even know what we spoke about, but I didn’t want to leave.

I left feeling warm.

I haven’t felt warm in years.

I need to feel warm again. I need that feeling back.

My legs power forward as I reach Sunfields. I feel my phone vibrate in the tight grip of my hand and I turn the flashing screen towards me.

Florrie Nannoo posted for the first time.

My legs slow to a halt as I glare at the phone. Irritation spikes inside me.

Oh, for God’s sake. Why? What is she posting? Why is Priya back on that stupid account? I thought she’d deleted it.

I press the intercom and then push my body against the faded front door. I feel my ears recoil at the harsh scraping sound the door always makes as it wheezes through the frame. The heavy smell swirls into my open mouth and I feel an immediate rush of heat as the insanely high temperature of the home washes over me.

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