avatarJacinta Palmer

Summary

Danni, a university student, discovers a set of romantic letters from last year and becomes captivated by the timeless expressions of love between Matt and Saffron, while navigating her new environment and finding comfort in a local cafe, The Prickly Pear.

Abstract

Danni, a university student starting her second year, moves into new accommodations where she finds a collection of love letters exchanged between Matt and Saffron from the previous year. As she settles into her new surroundings, she is drawn to the heartfelt and poetic nature of the letters, which remind her of love letters from a bygone era. While exploring the area, she discovers a cafe called The Prickly Pear, which becomes her go-to spot for coffee, toast, and studying. The cafe's friendly atmosphere and a particular barista's attention make her feel welcome. Despite her initial shyness, she begins to feel at home in the cafe, balancing her time between reading the enchanting letters and focusing on her history studies.

Opinions

  • Danni finds the act of writing love letters charming and somewhat nostalgic, contrasting it with the modern reliance on technology for communication.
  • The letters' content, including poetry and personal reflections, resonate deeply with Danni, making her feel connected to the authors' emotions.
  • Danni initially feels out of place in the cafe but grows to appreciate its vibrant atmosphere and the sense of community it offers.
  • The barista's friendly demeanor and the gesture of a free cookie contribute to Danni's positive impression of The Prickly Pear.
  • Danni's decision to read just one letter before studying indicates her struggle to balance her curiosity about the letters with her academic responsibilities.
  • The author of the letters, Matt, expresses his love through poetry and romantic gestures, revealing a deep connection with Saffron.
  • Danni's appreciation for the cafe grows as it transitions from a new discovery to a familiar and comforting space, reflecting her overall adjustment to her new environment.

Romantic | Contemporary | Series

Love Letters Straight from the Heart [2]

Danni’s charmed by the romantic nature of some old letters she discovered in her student digs

Image from Bruno on Pixabay

Previously Danni moves into her second year accommodation and discovers some correspondence a previous owner has left behind

Next morning Danni was up bright and early, on a mission to find a cafe nearby which served fresh coffee. She pushed open the door on a place called The Prickly Pear, decorated with a row of tiny cacti along the ledge of its glass frontage, and a spiky succulent on each table. The smell of coffee enticed her to the counter, where she placed an order for a refillable mug and a side of buttered toast.

Danni surveyed its cheerful orange and lime decor and the plugs beside every table, she decided this could be her new ‘office’ so long as the java was good. Her phone plinked with a message from her Mum.

“Are you settling in OK?’’ She happily answered in the affirmative.

“Just one lecture this afternoon, so I’ve got the morning to find my feet.”

Having sent the message, she laid her phone on the table, and her thoughts nudged against the bundle of letters. Why, in this age of technology, would Matt and Saffron go old school and write letters? Why not use mobile phones?

Her toast and coffee arrived, making Danni realize how hungry she was. The cafe was buzzing with customers, plenty came in to get a coffee to go, regulars who the baristas recognized and called by name. That could be her soon, if she came here to study. She indulged her love of people watching, wondering if any students frequented the place, she scanned the queue and tables for faces she recognized.

One guy caught her eye and smiled. She didn’t know him and felt suddenly shy. Although he looked friendly, Danni lowered her head, letting her dark bob swing like a curtain to hide her face. She fished her air pods from her pocket and settled them in her ears, selecting music. As soon as the song drowned out the bustle of the place, she felt instantly calmer. When she glanced up again, the guy who’d smiled had gone.

She walked along the seafront for a while before heading to the University Campus. One of the reasons she’d applied to study here was its close proximity to the sea. Seagulls wheeled and swooped above her head and a stiff breeze blew off the waves, tinged with salt and beautifully fresh.

Danni purchased groceries on her way home from class. She found a bigger supermarket than the mini-mart she’d stumbled across last night, with more reasonable prices. Her grant wouldn’t go far if she kept eating takeaway. Once back at the flat, she felt comforted now her cupboards and fridge were full of options, and she made herself a simple spaghetti Bolognese using soya mince. She wasn’t a strict vegetarian, but she leaned that way because it was much cheaper not to buy meat.

After washing up and cleaning the kitchen, she had history chapters to read, but Matt’s letters were calling to her. Just one, she bargained with herself, then I can concentrate on my studies. She sat at her desk and pulled out a blue sheet of paper.

Dear Saffi,

We were born for living, And life is love,

And love is you, Dear sweet you.

[Poem by Rowland Leighton]

I don’t trust myself to remember poetry properly, when I’m looking into your blue eyes, but this poem expresses exactly how you make me feel.

Sometimes I lie awake, with the curtains pulled back to look at the stars. The night sky used to make me feel tiny, an insignificant being in this world. But now when I think of you, I know I need to be here, to love you the way you deserve.

When we’re apart, my time is dull and grey like cardboard, until the day your letter comes. Better still is the date on which we have plans to meet — I am glad you’re free on the 6th. Why don’t we go somewhere we can listen to music and dance?

All my love -

Matt

Danni sighed wistfully as she finished his letter, and carefully replaced it in the envelope. Was this really written last year? There was something timeless about the words he used, especially now he was quoting poems to romance Saffi. This could have been a soldier’s letter to his sweetheart left behind.

She laid the bundle of letters at the back of her desk and fired up her laptop — those chapters wouldn’t read themselves.

Her first lecture was at nine. Danni had no time to dawdle at the Prickly Pear the next morning, but on her way home, it looked so bright and welcoming that she couldn’t resist venturing inside and seeking out a table. It was quite crowded, but she found a small one near the back. She’d only just opened her laptop when a server came over.

“Hi, what can I get you?”

“A cappuccino with hazelnut syrup please,” Danni smiled, then did a double take.

The waiter was the guy who’d smiled at her yesterday morning; how did he get a job so quickly? But she kicked herself for her narrow thinking, it wasn’t unheard of to be a customer at the same place you worked.

“There you go, and a cookie on the house,” he returned, setting the mug and a plate on her table.

“Wow! Thank you,” Danni felt herself blush.

“Enjoy!” he said with a grin, and moved away to take another order.

She was soon immersed in her studies, taking notes and highlighting passages as she read them. Danni barely broke her stride when the smiley guy offered her a refill, but two cups later, her neck was feeling tight, and she was the only customer in the cafe.

“Time to go,” she said aloud, as she put her laptop in her bag and shrugged into her jacket.

“Thanks, see you soon.” Smiley guy looked up from putting cakes into the fridge.

That cafe was a great find, Danni acknowledged as she strode home. Autumn leaves swirled round her feet and the bunting strung between the shops and cafes fluttered loudly overhead. She couldn’t wait to get inside her flat, kick off her boots and treat herself to reading another of Matt’s letters to Saffron.

[to be continued]

Chapters 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Read another of my Fiction Shorts here. To get my content direct to your inbox whenever I publish, subscribe to my e-mail. Sign up for Medium’s $5 membership use my referral link — which helps me earn money, plus giving you access to thousand of other writers’ great stories

Romance
Series
Short Story
Letters
Fiction
Recommended from ReadMedium