Unsent | Chapter 6

 The Letting Go

The box sat before me, a reminder of years of hidden feelings and pain. It was something I’d carried with me for so long, like a secret I couldn’t let go of. But now, standing in the quiet attic, surrounded by dust and old memories, I knew it was time.

I picked up the pen and wrote my last letter, September 2023, a simple acknowledgment of what I’d always known. My hands shook slightly as I lifted the paper. 

Dear Daniel,

I’ve loved you quietly for years, hoping for something you could never give me. And now, I’m finally okay with that.

I’m writing this because I need to say it one last time. This is the final letter—not because I’ve stopped loving you, but because I’ve realized I deserve more than silence and waiting.

You’ll always be part of my past, but it’s time for me to move on. To stop watching my own life from the sidelines.

This isn’t goodbye. It’s me letting go.

No longer yours,

Elena

I set the letter down, feeling lighter than I had in years. The words were out, and with them, some of the weight I’d been carrying.

I gathered the stack of unsent letters, once so heavy with emotion, now just paper in my hands. They weren’t secrets anymore—just words I didn’t need to keep.

I carried the box downstairs and stepped outside. The backyard was quiet, lit only by the stars. The old fire pit, unused for years, waited in the corner.

One by one, I placed the letters inside. Each one was a piece of my past, something I was ready to leave behind. The empty box felt hollow now, like something I no longer needed.

I lit a match and touched it to the edge of a letter. The paper caught fire quickly, flames eating through the words, turning them to ash. I watched as the rest of the letters burned, the smoke drifting away into the night. It felt like a release—like I was finally free.

The fire faded, leaving only glowing embers. I sat back, breathing in the cool air, feeling a quiet sense of peace.

Then my phone buzzed. For a second, I wondered if it was Daniel. But it was an old friend, someone I hadn’t heard from in years.

"Hey, Elena! Long time no see. A bunch of us are getting together next weekend. You should come!"

I smiled and typed back: "I’d love to. Count me in."

I put my phone away and looked up at the stars. The letters were gone, but I was still here—lighter, freer, and ready for whatever came next.

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