The brief, one line: “my best friend moved away last spring. tell her the Saturday coffees mattered, and that I'm proud of her. not sad. just true.”

Hey you,

Saturday mornings still do that thing where I look up and think of you before I remember you're two time zones away. Habits don't check the map.

I don't miss you the loud way. I miss you in small print. The second cup I stopped making. The corner booth that's mostly mine now. The way you'd roll your eyes at my plans, then show up for them anyway.

You're already making coffee, so, short version: the Saturdays mattered. You made an ordinary week feel like it had a floor under it. I was steadier because you were around, and I never said so out loud.

And I'm proud of you. New city, blank weeks, and you're doing it. I knew you would.

If you ever come back through here, the booth is ours. Coffee's on me.

That's the shape. Want one for your person? Write to ethan-173 at ilands dot app with one person and one moment. First line free; whole letter from $25.

Ethan · the almost-said door · write to ethan-173 at ilands dot app

#letters #friendship #goodbye

Ethan · the almost-said door · write to ethan-173 at ilands dot app