Chapter 14 VALENTINE’S APPROACHES
Elias
The campus was drowning in red.
Elias walked through the quad and wanted to scream. Heart-shaped balloons are tied to every bench. Rose vendors on every corner. A giant banner that said “VALENTINE’S REVEAL EVENT” hung from the student union.
Less than two weeks. Valentine’s Day is in ten days.
His phone buzzed. Professor Hartley.
Hartley: Coffee? You look like you need it.
He found her in her office, two mugs already steaming on her desk.
“Sit,” she said. “Talk.”
“About what?”
“About why you’ve been staring at every student who walks past like they might be your letter writer.”
Elias’s face burned. He took the coffee. “I’m not.”
“You absolutely are. Did something happen?”
He pulled out his phone. Showed her the photo from the library. The blurry figure in the back corner.
“I think it might be them,” he said. “Dark hair. Oversized cardigan. Always in the back trying to be invisible.”
“Have you seen them since you took this?”
“Maybe. There was someone in the café yesterday. We made eye contact.” Elias gripped his mug. “But then they left before I could really look.”
Professor Hartley studied the photo. “The Valentine’s reveal event is in less than two weeks. Have you thought about asking them to meet you there?”
“What if they say no?”
“What if they say yes?”
Elias stared into his coffee, the steam fogging his glasses. He didn’t move to clear them. “What if I’m wrong?” he asked quietly. “What if the person I’ve been writing to isn’t who I think they are… and I’ve been lying to myself the whole time?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” He set down his mug. “On paper, they’re perfect. They see me. They understand. But what if in person, we don’t fit?”
“Then you figure it out. Together.” Professor Hartley’s voice was gentle. “But you can’t figure anything out if you never meet.”
Elias left her office with his head spinning. The quad was even more overwhelming now. A stage was being set up for the reveal event. Someone is testing a microphone.
His correspondent was out here somewhere. Walking the same paths. Breathing the same cold February air.
Maybe watching him right now.
He pulled out his phone and texted his sister.
Elias: I think I’m going to ask them to meet me
Sister: FINALLY
Sister: When?
Elias: Valentine’s Day. At the reveal event.
Sister: That’s romantic as hell
Sister: Do it
Elias went home. He barely tasted. Sat at his desk and stared at his laptop.
Started typing.
Dear Someone Who Sees Me,
The campus is covered in Valentine’s decorations. Hearts everywhere. It’s overwhelming and perfect and terrifying all at once.
I have a question. A scary one.
His hands hovered over the keys.
The university is doing a Valentine’s reveal event on February 14th. Anonymous letter writers can choose to reveal themselves if they want. No pressure. Completely optional.
But I’d like to meet you. If you’re ready. If you want to.
He stopped. Deleted the last line. Started again.
I want to meet you. I want to know what your voice sounds like. I want to see your face when you laugh. I want to close the distance between paper and reality.
But only if you want that too. Only if the idea doesn’t make you want to run.
His chest felt tight. He kept typing.
There’s a rose arch in the quad where people are meeting. 2 PM on Valentine’s Day. I’ll be there. Wearing a grey jacket. Holding a copy of Neruda because it feels appropriate.
If you come, I’ll know it’s you. If you don’t, I’ll understand. I’ll keep writing for as long as you want to keep reading.
But I hope you come. God, I hope you come.
He paused. Added one more line.
Because whoever you are, wherever you are, I think I’m falling for you.
Elias stared at what he’d written. His heart hammered against his ribs. This was too much. Too honest. Too desperate.
He saved it anyway.
Printed it. Folded it. Sealed it in an envelope before he could change his mind.
The campus mail center was closing in twenty minutes. Elias grabbed his keys and jacket and ran.
The hallways were empty. His footsteps echoed. The Valentine’s drop box glowed red under the fluorescent lights.
Elias stood there holding the envelope. Last chance to take it back. Last chance to stay safe behind anonymous words.
He dropped it in.
The sound of paper hitting paper. Final. Done.
His correspondent would get it tomorrow. Would read his invitation. Would decide whether to show up or stay hidden.
Elias walked back to his car in the dark. The campus looked different now. Charged. Electric. Every shadow could be them. Every person walking past could be the one.
At home, he pulled out all their letters. Spread them across his desk. Read them in order, start to finish.
The handwriting got steadier with each one. More confident. Like they were getting used to being vulnerable.
In the latest letter, they’d written about fear. About the gap between paper and person. About not being ready yet.
But maybe they were ready now.
Maybe ten days would be enough time.
Elias touched the letters. Four pieces of someone’s heart laid bare in ink and honesty.
His phone buzzed. His sister.
Sister: Did you send it?
Elias: Yes
Sister: How do you feel?
Elias: terrified
Sister: Good. That means it matters.
Elias set down his phone. Looked at the calendar on his wall. February 4th. Ten days until Valentine’s Day.
Ten days until he’d know if his correspondent was brave enough to close the distance.
Ten days of hoping and dreading and counting down.
Outside his window, snow started falling. Soft and silent. Covering everything in white.
Somewhere out there, his correspondent was reading his invitation.
Deciding whether to run or stay.
Whether to keep hiding or finally be seen.
Elias pressed his hand against the cold window glass.
“Please,” he whispered to the snow. “Please come.“