The Love Letter in the Frame Chapter 2

Five days after my death, Zoe brought my ashes back to the city.

I didn't have much family in the country. My only brother was on a business trip abroad and was currently on a flight back.

When Zoe entered my apartment with the urn, my Ragdoll cat, Nugget, had been hungry for two days.

I had left three days' worth of food, thinking I’d be back. I never thought I wouldn't make it.

Zoe used to visit often, so Nugget recognized her immediately and pounced, meowing for food.

Probably realizing I wasn't there, Zoe almost started crying again.

She filled the bowl, and the cat dove in.

Zoe went into the study to pack up my things.

I was a full-time author, so I spent more time in the study than the bedroom.

The desk was exactly how I left it. Next to the computer was a framed photo of our high school friend group.

In the photo, Zoe was linking arms with me in the center. Perry stood on the far right.

While I smiled at the camera, Perry’s eyes were looking sideways—at me.

Zoe was currently furious at Perry. She packed everything else and reached for the frame last.

Just then, a very full Nugget jumped up.

Seeing Zoe reach for the frame, the cat launched a playful attack.

Crash!

The frame hit the floor, glass shattering everywhere.

Zoe jumped. As she picked up the cat, she noticed something hidden in the backing of the broken frame.

"Meow." Nugget realized he’d messed up and let out an apologetic squeak.

Zoe bent down and pulled a letter out of the debris.

She opened it. It was a love letter.

Both Zoe and I were confused.

The paper was yellowed with age, but the handwriting was sharp and clear.

Every word was filled with a hidden, grand, unrequited love.

[June, loving you in secret is too bitter. I don’t want to like you anymore.]

Further down, in smaller print:

[Just kidding. I lied.]

When our eyes hit the bottom right corner, we both froze.

The signature was Perry.

The current A-list celebrity.

And my high school desk-mate whom I had secretly loved for years.

I suddenly remembered. Perry had given me this photo frame in our senior year.

I had moved many times over the years, but this frame always came with me, sitting by my computer.

I never dreamed it held such a secret.

I thought back to that last phone call, Perry’s trembling voice saying "I don't believe you"...

My heart ached violently.

Do ghosts feel heartbreak?

Zoe immediately pulled out her phone and unblocked Perry.

But before she could dial, a notification popped up from Twitter.

#PerryWright Suicide

My hands shaking, I watched Zoe click the trending topic.

A video from a verified gossip account had been posted ten minutes ago.

An ambulance was parked outside a luxury villa. Security and staff were everywhere.

The camera shook, catching a glimpse of a hand hanging off the stretcher. The fingers were pale, slender.

Dark red liquid dripped from the fingertips, blooming like flowers on the pavement.

[Perry Wright attempts suicide at home. Suicide note suspected to reference a lost love.]

I stared at the words "Lost Love." My brain short-circuited.

No. It shouldn't be like this.

Why would he die? How could he die?

In an instant, memories flashed through my mind like a carousel, finally stopping on a snowy winter day.

Seventeen-year-old Perry stood at the bottom of the school steps, reaching his hand out to me.

"It's a deal then, June."

He smiled, his eyes curving into crescents, looking impossibly gentle.

"If I become a big star, you have to come be my manager."

A gust of wind blew, covering the world in white snow.

It felt like a long dream.