Chapter 03
From:[email protected]
To:[email protected]
Subject: Not six days
Dear R,
First of all, I apologize once again. Well, although two days is less than six... I’m still sorry. I wanted so much to reply to you; your words have been on my mind all this time. The thing is, besides the new time zone, I’m involved in a big project, and it’s been taking up my time, especially in these early days where I need to meet and interact with so many new people.
Honestly, it didn’t feel right to respond to you in a rush; you deserve my full attention. So here I am.
You asked if this was the first time I did something like this... writing to someone in a book and waiting for a response. And yes, it was the first time. It felt almost like reaching out to nothing and being surprised by someone holding my hand. I’m glad it was you. As I mentioned before, I never truly expected a reply, so it’s fair to say this story only exists because you decided to write it with me.
And if I was hoping for someone to hold my hand as a response, I think it reinforces your point that perhaps loneliness is a waiting, and it also contributes to mine since I believe it can take many forms. If it’s absence, then it can be possibility. And what is possibility if not the idea of manifesting something, like a desire?
I’m honored to know that I made you feel understood as well. That’s much more than I could have imagined when I was writing those notes in the book.
About the new time zone, it has been kinder to me, thank you. It wasn’t such a big difference; I think it’s more about how I dealt with it. And don’t worry; you can ask me where I am.
I’m in Paris, participating in a big project; it’s exciting and refreshing, a significant step for me, actually.
So know that this is where your words find me. In a city that has been the cradle of the world, full of stories and loves. And it’s here that you etched your words into me in such a short time.
A.
P.S. I’m 39. And your intuition was right; there is a woman on the other side of the screen too.
P.P.S. R... I want to know something about you. Tell me something you’d like me to know, something that makes you happy. I think we can keep our names a secret for a little longer; in a way, it’s fascinating. But maybe without limiting ourselves to footnotes this time?
*
From:[email protected]
To:[email protected]
Subject: Two is better than six
Dear A,
Two days are less than six, but I still couldn’t help checking my inbox in hopes of hearing from you. Now, reading your words, I can’t help but smile. But don’t apologize for that; maybe I’m just being too anxious.
By the way, congratulations on the project. Even though I don’t know what it’s about, it sounds like something big and important, so it’s okay to wait a little longer to hear more from you.
I confess I was surprised that it was your first time writing in a book while waiting for a response. I mean, I thought you had done it before, but I can’t deny that I’m happy to be the first to reply; it makes me feel special. It feels like I found a bottle cast into the sea, hiding a secret treasure. What a shame no one else looked, but how lucky I was to notice it.
If loneliness is absence, then it can also be space. And space needs to be filled, right? And isn’t that what we’re doing now? Transforming absence into presence, even if it’s just made of words?
Wow, you’re in Paris; that’s amazing. It’s a six-hour difference from New York, right? It’s not that big, but I understand how all the changes can contribute at first. I confess I’m curious about the type of project you’re involved in, but perhaps that’s a topic for another email.
What’s Paris like? I’ve never been, but it seems enchanting. I don’t know why, but I imagined you were in a quieter, more remote place. It doesn’t really make sense, after all, you lived in New York, right? And what’s louder than this city?
Now, officially out of the footnotes:
First, I must say I’m happy that my intuition was correct.
And about what makes me happy... well, many things make me happy, but I’d say plants. Plants make me very happy. In fact, I’ve always loved them. I grew up in a house with a huge garden, and since I was little, I enjoyed playing with them until my parents realized it wasn’t just a simple childhood interest.
I work with them now, by the way, and they remind me that even in such a fast-paced world, there’s always space for peace and beauty.
Do you like flowers? If so, what are your favorites? Did you know they can tell stories too?
Well, I think it’s your turn to tell me what makes you happy, A. I’ll be waiting eagerly, whether it’s in two or six days, or however long it takes.
R.
P.S. I’m going to miss the footnotes, I got used to them too quickly.
*
From:[email protected]
To:[email protected]
Subject: Less than two is even better, right?
Dear R,
Six days, two days, five hours... who’s counting? I am. Well, five hours is better than two days, right?
I’m in my apartment now, I worked all day, and it’s almost midnight here. I have a bit of a headache and am pretty sure I have the mark of my glasses on my face. But on the bright side, I think things are going to calm down now. I can do my work alone, basically, although there are meetings here and there.
You’re not being too anxious because that would imply I am as well since I’m eager to write to you throughout the day. And even though your replies have been quicker, I can’t help but wonder during the day if you have a new email waiting for me. Funny, I would say.
Thank you for the congratulations. Yes, it’s a big project, and it’s very important to me.
And no, I’ve never done this before, I mean, writing a message in a book. It’s funny to think that it worked out so well the first time, even though I had no expectations. And now you’ve rescued the bottle from the sea, and it’s been sweet to fill the spaces with your presence in the form of words.
Yes, Paris!!! Six hours ahead of New York. About the project, I can say it has to do with what brought us together, in the first place. Paris is indeed a beautiful city. There’s so much history in it, that’s the most fascinating part for me.
And yes, it’s a fast-paced city, I would say, not unlike New York. Beautiful but fast. I think every big city, where a lot happens all the time, tends to be like that, right? I think that’s why my only request regarding accommodation during these three months I’ll be here was to have an apartment a bit farther from the city center. I like looking out the window of the small living room and not seeing hurried people in business attire, but rather a little park where I can see the signs of spring budding. So, I found it interesting that you thought I might be in a quieter, more remote place, I think you weren’t wrong about that.
Plants. Plants make you happy. I liked knowing that. It seems special that your parents noticed that it meant something more to you. I couldn’t help but imagine a mini R in a garden full of flowers, even though I don’t even know what you look like. Tell me, did you use a notebook and pretend it was a clipboard, cataloging information about the flowers? I don’t know why, but that sounds like something mini you would do.
And it’s amazing that you work with that now. I’m also curious to know what it’s like...
And yes, I like flowers, I like daisies, I find them delicate, but if I had to choose a favorite flower, I’d say sunflowers. From the color to the name, I don’t know, they just make me happy. I’m sure you would know more about them than I could predict.
And what are your favorite flowers? By the way, in your email... is that the scientific name for something, right? I could look it up online, but it wouldn’t be as interesting as hearing it from you.
Now, about what makes me happy... I could say books, but that would be too obvious, so I’ll say music makes me happy. But nothing from the 2000s. I’m sorry. Although when I go karaoke with my friends, they always insist that I sing some pop from the 2000s, for me, the best songs are from the ’70s til ’90s.
R, I’m going to bed, it’s already past midnight here for me. I don’t know what time this email will find you in New York, but when you read it, I hope it finds you well.
A.
P.S. The footnotes don’t have to end. So tell me... what’s your favorite color?
*
From:[email protected]
To:[email protected]
Subject: Five hours is a record
Dear A,
You have no idea how happy this email made me. I had a stressful day at work today; it seems we’re sharing, besides emails, a headache as well. Adorable, isn’t it? But seriously, I was really glad to see your words. I think I’m more invested in this than I thought I would be.
One observation: I don’t know why, but imagining you wearing glasses fits you so well. I hadn’t thought about it before. Anyway, I hope you got some rest.
And if you’re waiting for my replies as much as I’m waiting for yours, that means we’re in the same boat. And that makes me happy. Filling the spaces with you has been nice.
Well, you said your project has to do with what brought us together, so I assume you work with books? Or something involving books? Are you a writer or something like that?
You’re right about big cities. Everything happens at the same time, it’s always a lot. But despite that, I really like New York, I must admit. And I have to say I think you made a great choice in staying in an apartment a bit farther away, it’s good to be able to breathe a little. Please, if you go to the park, let me know how it looks with the first signs of spring. By the way, it’s my favorite season.
Also... you mentioned you’ll be there for three months, which means you’ll be back in New York in the summer, right?
Oh my God, how did you know I used a clipboard notebook? I even had a real clipboard later, you know? I tried to draw the flowers, but I wasn’t very talented in that area. But it was nice to play, I was so curious about everything, and now I make a living from it. Our dreams are powerful, right?
There were daisies in our garden, you know? My mom helped me take care of them, that was one of my favorite things in the world, feeling that I could be responsible for something and knowing that my mom trusted me with it.
Do you know the scientific name for sunflowers? Well, it’s Helianthus annuus. Did you know that sunflowers have a connection to loyalty and adoration? The fact that they follow the sun is about that. Like human souls, always in search of light...
My favorite flowers... it’s hard to say, I have many. But azaleas definitely have my heart. And answering your question about my name here, yes, rhododendron is the scientific name for the ericaceae plants, of which azaleas are a part.
I also really like cyclamen. It’s a very small flower, but it represents sincere affection and lasting feelings. The stories say that the ancient Greeks considered cyclamen to be the flowers of love.
Speaking of names here, what does roseandthemoon mean? I’m curious.
And oh my God, you sing karaoke???? I’m terrible at it, really awful. But I find it so much fun. I think I would sing a pop song from the 2000s as well, sorry. What’s your favorite song to sing at karaoke? Not the ones your friends make you sing, but the one you like the most, following your own musical style.
A, thank you for writing to me. Really. I’m smiling right now.
R.
P.S. My favorite color is green. Not a light cartoonish green, but a green that reminds me of the color of plant leaves. I don’t know if that was a good description. But what about yours?