Chapter 4

The letter came after a week.

Syliva grew restless thinking that Xavier gave up on her. The thought seemed ridiculous even to her. Olivia also told her as much. Syliva couldn’t help but worry. She had grown attached to the man. She would look at the picture at night hidden under the covers. Olivia teased her to no end. Syliva carried it in her wallet, too afraid to lose it. Xavier represented their way out as well. Syliva sighed once more. She couldn’t lose Xavier and what he represented. Despite Olivia’s teasing words, Syliva knew that her sister was worried as well.

“A letter arrived!” Olivia barged into the room. She was breathless after running there. She had met the mailman on the way. The old man gave him the letter then under Olivia’s insistence. “The mailman told me that there was a problem this week which delayed the distribution,” she explained to her sister ,voice breathy from running. She sat on the bed extending the letter with a shaking hand.

Syliva took it.