Fifty Letters in Between

Knowing that no mail has come since fortnight ago, Rah-an felt his hand tremble as he finally received a  letter.

It was his mother who had sent him away from home. In broken sentences, she told him to stay simple and keep away from anything shady. Since then, they had been communicating through letters which were secretly passed among trusted people.

Forty-nine letters all in all, except one paper swept away while on board a train, had been sincerely kept inside his satchel safely locked in his little sister's candy tin.

Great care was taken to survive the risk of being caught by the people who do not belong in their tribe. He had been in hiding for three years and he had only been receiving letters with her mother's name written in bold print. It's enough, he thought.

There he stood, facing the open window. His heart pounding inside his chest and racing against his breath. He opened the letter.

Each words became heavy in his hands. He had only taken the time to assure himself of the reality when he read it the second time.

To my Rah-an,

We look forward to see you soon. 

The charges have been pardoned.

Then it was signed with the familiar loop of handwriting, Cecilia, the name was precious to him.

Into a couch, Rah-an sank, pressed by physical exhaustion that drained his body and soul. He can see the cabin being empty soon.

Tears welled down his eyes as soon as he realized that he had never been too far from his village. It was just fifty letters away.