Grey Street // H.S.

Dear Ellison

Dear Ellison Grey,

I want to start this letter by apologizing for getting back to you so late. I'm sure by the time you receive this it will have already happened and these words won't have the same meaning but I'm going to write them regardless.

No, I'm not going to tell you what is happening. I know you hate surprises... I know how you run away from them, but I have a feeling that this one will be worth it. So you'll just have to wait and see.

Truth is, I received all of your letters only three days ago, even the first that was written months before. My mother was being extremely curious the day we received your first one and she read it without my knowledge. She's quite the criminal her, reading my mail. Anyways since your first letter was so strongly worded she decided not to tell me about it. I think she was just trying to look out for me, for good reason too since I wasn't exactly up to par when it came to my house, but I wish I would have known about it sooner. After your last one that was sent and some deep thinking about it she finally fessed up.

It really is like we're living in a Nicolas Sparks story... didn't that happen in the Notebook? Except you wrote a few less than what's his name did. I can't remember his name at the moment.

Since you intended for my reading of your letters to come in a certain order I'm going address them as though I got them when I was supposed to.

Okay, here we go.

First letter:

I lied. I'm not going to say much about this one. I understand where you are coming from, and I understand you are angry so I don't want to dwell on this too much. Just, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Second letter:

Hello, this is your sort of imaginary friend Harold writing back to you. I've always wanted a pen pal.

Woohoo! Ellison Grey is taking on the big apple. I just want to start by saying how incredibly proud I am to hear you did it, that you moved out of the place that was sucking up all your potential. You are going to do big things for the world and New York isn't going to know what hit it.

It's so nice that you have people who want to see you succeed like Gerdy and Homer. You need people like that in your life and it's great to see their generosity. I'm sure you are very thankful for it. Don't think of it as though you are compromising what you originally envisioned, doing it on your own, but think of it as a way to get there sooner and know that the only reason they offered in the first place is because they love you.

New York City though. That is so exciting! I'm sure you'll be thriving in no time and you won't have the time to think about being lonely with all the hip new friends you'll make.

It's funny how that worked out for you, living a life that you imagined for so long. It makes me wonder if you really do have psychic powers. Am I going to be rich when I'm older? Please tell me I am Ellison because if you do it surely will come true. Right now a bit of extra cash wouldn't hurt to be honest, because I feel your pain. I moved to London and my God I die a little every time I have to pay rent. I haven't been here long, about two months I think but it's nice being somewhere different. Gemma lives here too so I get to see her quite often.

My flat has it's own room for the bathroom, so I might be doing a bit better than you on the living situation, although I could see the conveniences of having a toilet so close to where you eat. Because you're right, you never know when you'll suddenly need to take a shit. Actually that may be concerning if that is an issue, you might want to get your bowel movements in check if that's the case.