Larkin's Letters Read Online Free PDF

roles, but he realized this was going to be the biggest role of his life. This was reality. No awards will be given out for this performance.
    That night. That hot, oppressive August night. Even though he had already known, that was the night Larkin had told him she had leukemia.

CHAPTER 3
     
    Letter #5 - August 2, 2011
     
    My perfect friend,
    You came to see me last night. I had poured myself a cup of coffee, grabbed that day’s edition of The Philadelphia Daily News, and made my way onto the balcony of my fourth-floor hotel room, which has become my home in the past month. Most people read the newspaper in the morning, but, as you know, I always read it before I go to bed. I am certainly not a morning person, and I never have time to just sit and read in the mornings before I leave for work. Well, when I worked. I always try to capture every last little bit of sleep I can before getting out of bed. Like always, I went straight for the Sports section followed, of course, by the Entertainment section. I always try to keep up-to-date with what is going on in your corner of the world, if not just to see who you might be dating this week. I know, I know. I can be hard on you.
    As I sat on the balcony, I took notice of the beautiful view that was laid out before me. My balcony is just high enough to reach above the treetops, giving me a picturesque view of the Delaware River. Last night was especially breathtaking. It was as if I was looking at a painting. The cloudless sky gave way to the full moon, and the stars blanketed the normally muddy brown-colored river, turning it into a radiant white glow.  I could see the lights emanating off the Camden skyline just across the river. I would glance up from the newspaper every so often, allowing the view to infuse into my memory. There was nothing more perfect, more beautiful, than this masterpiece laid out before me.
    Suddenly, a knock at the door had startled me, and I figured it was Chris or maybe my mother. Never in a million years did I expect to see you. I haven’t seen you in so long, and just one glimpse of your perfect face made my heart skip a beat. It was at that moment that I realized I had been proven wrong. There actually was something more perfect, more beautiful than the masterpiece I had just left behind on that balcony moments ago.
    When you looked at me, I felt as if you were reading my mind. I was so happy to see you, and I couldn’t wait to wrap my arms around you. I remember, as I tried to release myself from our embrace, I felt you squeeze me tighter. I, of course, reciprocated, trying to dissolve the seven months’ time in which I hadn’t been able to disappear into your arms. You didn’t say anything, and this worried me. You just held onto me for a long while. I felt your head bury into my shoulder, and I suddenly realized you were crying. I have never seen you cry before, Ryan.
    I asked you to tell me what was wrong, and you begged me to talk to you. Talk to you? I didn’t know what to think about first, but then I realized you knew. Damn it, you knew. I then realized it had to have been your mom who told you. How else would you know?
    I am so sorry I didn’t tell you, Ryan. The sorrow in your eyes broke my heart. I should have told you. You should have heard it from me. I beg your forgiveness. I was scared. I didn’t want to be a burden to you. I could tell you were angry with me. Two months was too long to wait.
    I watched you as you stood up and walked outside to the balcony. I waited a few minutes to see if you would come back inside. When I realized you weren’t, I reluctantly walked outside and sat down next to you. Neither of us said anything for the longest time. In the distance, I could see the red lights glowing from the boats that were taking an evening cruise on the river. It made me think of the boat rides we would take together back in Somers Point.
    I tried to change the subject by talking about memories of us fishing, but you know