Aiden had just returned to his dorm room after a long day of lectures. He dropped his bag by the door and sat down at his desk, exhausted. As he started to organize his things, his eyes caught an envelope lying on the table. It was unmarked, with no return address. His name was written on it in neat handwriting, a familiar yet distant feeling rising in his chest. He picked it up, feeling an odd mix of curiosity and he carefully opened it. As he unfolded the paper inside, his heart skipped a beat, and he began to read.
Dear Aiden,
I have thought about writing this letter for a long time, but I never had the courage to send it. Today, I am writing to you not to ask for anything, but to share words I never said and feelings I kept hidden inside for so long.
In high school, I watched you from afar. You were always surrounded by your friends, laughing, and enjoying life. You seemed so confident, so comfortable in your own world. I, on the other hand, stood quietly in the background, never daring to speak to you. I wondered if you ever noticed me, the girl who always stayed on the edges, too shy to be part of your life.
I remember the first time I truly saw you. It wasn’t in class or at lunch, but in a quiet moment. You were with your friends, and for a second, our eyes met. You smiled at me, and it felt like the world stopped for just a moment. But then it was gone, and you moved on without knowing how much that smile meant to me. I didn’t tell you. I didn’t say anything.
Every day, I saw you in the halls, during breaks, and in the classroom. Each time, I wanted to say something, anything, but fear held me back. What if you didn’t care? What if you didn’t even notice me? I didn’t want to risk that. So, I stayed silent, watching from a distance. I wanted to be part of your world, but I didn’t have the courage to step into it.
There were moments when I thought I might finally speak up. When I was close to you, when it seemed like the perfect time to say something. But I didn’t. I stayed quiet, and those moments passed. I regret not telling you that I admired you. I wanted to tell you how much I liked the way you smiled, how you always knew how to make everyone laugh. I wanted to tell you that I had feelings for you, but I didn’t. Now, those words are lost, and I carry them with me, quietly, like a weight I can never put down.
You may never know how much you meant to me. You might not have noticed me at all. But I know that these missed chances, these unspoken words, will stay with me forever. I wonder if you ever felt the same way, if you ever saw me the way I saw you. But I will never know. What I do know is that I should have spoken up when I had the chance, instead of letting fear control me.
I have learned that some words are never said, and sometimes, we have to live with that silence. But even now, I still think of you. I still carry those feelings with me, even though I never told you. I wish I had been brave enough to share them.
So, this letter is my way of saying what I never could. I want you to know that I liked you, I admired you, and I’m sorry I never told you when it mattered. These words may not change anything, but they are all I have left now.
