Summary

Danni, a university student, discovers a collection of love letters in her new bedsit, revealing a blossoming romance between Saffron and Matt.

Abstract

In the midst of settling into her new and somewhat bare university accommodation, Danni uncovers a bundle of love letters written by a man named Matt to a woman named Saffron. The letters, filled with affection and poetic musings, detail Matt's growing feelings for Saffron, their shared experiences, and plans for future meetings. As Danni reads the letters, she is moved by the sincerity and tenderness of their correspondence, reflecting on her own romantic aspirations and the stark contrast to her current solitude. Despite feeling somewhat intrusive, Danni decides to continue reading the letters, intending to eventually return them to Saffron, all the while contemplating the nature of love and relationships as depicted in the heartfelt missives.

Opinions

Danni views her first year of university, particularly freshers' week, as overwhelming and prefers to focus on her studies in her second year.
She finds her new bedsit lacking in warmth and character compared to its presentation during the viewing, noting the need for repairs and personal touches.
Danni is initially hesitant to read the love letters she finds, showing respect for the writers' privacy.
She is captivated by the depth of emotion and the poetic nature of Matt's letters, which contrast with her perception of modern men's romantic expressions.
Danni harbors a secret desire for a romantic relationship that mirrors the depth and passion conveyed in the letters.
Despite the intrusive nature of reading someone else's correspondence, Danni justifies her actions by reasoning that the letters were not sealed and she plans to return them to their rightful owner.
The discovery of the letters and their contents lead Danni to reflect on her own expectations of romance and the type of relationship she aspires to have.

Romance | Contemporary Fiction | Ep. 1

Love Letters — Straight from the Heart

Danni settles into her new digs and uncovers a blossoming romance

The second year of university would be tougher, for starters Danni was no longer in halls of residence, surrounded by other students and close to amenities. She wouldn’t miss the frantic pace of freshers’ week — which had been overwhelming. Trying to have fun with total strangers in an unfamiliar place when she wasn’t much of a drinker — nope! She was happy to put that experience behind her and knuckle down to her studies.

She lugged the last of her stuff into the small bedsit that she’d viewed and signed a contract on last summer. Then it had looked cozy, with a throw and cushions on the bed, plants on the windowsills and an appealing stack of paperbacks on a shelf above the desk. Now stark and bare, its walls looked bland, the en-suite bathroom had no storage and the hooks by the front door were too wobbly to use. She’d have to contact the landlord to get that repaired.

Danni opened the window, letting in fresh air and traffic noise, then pulled her wheeled suitcase closer. If she unpacked, it would feel more homely, so she began to lift out stacks of neatly folded clothes. She opened the pack of scented liners — a gift from Aunt Vi, lifting out each drawer to lay the paper inside each one. Beneath the bottom drawer she saw some letters, and Danni stooped to grasp a small bundle of envelopes bound with baker’s string.

She turned it over in her hand with curiosity. The envelopes were handwritten, clearly the same person had sent them all. Should she read them? It was very tempting — but she set them aside while she continued to unpack. However Danni’s eyes and thoughts kept straying back to them, wondering about the messages they contained.

Once her dresses were hung and her bottles and tubes arranged in the bathroom, the apartment looked more welcoming. All that was left for Danni to do was make up the bed with her own sheets. Next, she boiled the kettle in the kitchenette for a mug of coffee, then she climbed on the bed.

She curled her legs under herself and fingered the first letter in the pile. She tugged out the single page of blue paper, the writing was a bit scrawly, but she could read it.

Dear Saffron

I hope I don’t scare you off by saying you’ve been on my mind all week.

I’ve never found someone as easy to talk to, a person who listens without judgement to my outlandish ideas.

Your delight at the dragonflies as we walked along the river bank charmed me and I was impressed how many birds you could identify. There’s no hiding you’re a country girl, which I like.

Let’s meet on the 15th in the same place, I don’t have to work so we’ll have the whole day to explore. You can show me the stained glass window you mentioned and tell me more about the city’s history.

Love Matt

What a sweet guy, Danni thought. She took a sip of the coffee, but it had gone cold, and she made a face.

Her tummy grumbled. There was nothing in to eat, just a jar of coffee and some spices. She decided to go out and find a pizza place, and grab some essentials from a supermarket en route. She slung her bum-bag over her shoulder and grabbed a couple of shopping bags, carefully locking the door behind her.

Danni ate two slices of mushroom pizza while she put away her groceries, then she hunkered down with the box on her lap and a bottle of cider within reach, to read the second letter in the bundle.

Dear Saffi -

Do you mind if I shorten your name? It suits you so well, with your golden hair and your eyes like the sky.

I’m not one who reads poetry, but you make me want to say a line or two to impress you. Maybe next time we meet, although when I’m with you, sensible thoughts fly out of my head.

I loved the film we saw; I keep remembering parts of it. Their romance and passion are so interwoven with how I’m starting to feel for you. Does that sound sappy? I hope we’re on the same page.

But you expressed so much in your kiss goodbye — Saffi I walked home on a cloud from that kiss!

I’ll see you on the 30th, the usual place, but I must leave by 4 as I have to work that evening.

Love Matt

Danni sighed — to inspire such emotions was a relationship goal for her. She’d always been a reader, it was kind of a given for a history scholar, but in her leisure time she consumed romance novels of every type. Such stories had provided comfort during her teens, a time when she felt her face didn’t fit.

She tried to keep a lid on unrealistic expectations of what guys were like when you were dating, but she secretly wished for someone who would quote a line of poetry while admiring a stunning sunset. Most modern men weren’t like that, but it seems Matt was. Lucky Saffron.

The letters had surprised her with their tenderness and sincerity, and now Danni wanted to read them slowly, to savor their contents, so she put the bundle aside until tomorrow. While she cleared away the greasy box and napkins from her meal, she wondered what Saffron had been like. She pictured someone a little new-age in her style of dress, with hair long enough to plait or put in a bun. Was she being influenced by what remembered of the bedsit’s decor?

Danni shook her head; she was getting fanciful. Then she yawned, feeling pooped! Time to wash her face and clean her teeth before bed. It always took longer in a new place, she couldn’t find her washcloth, she’d need to buy a new one tomorrow, for tonight she’d make do with micellar water and cotton wool.

With just the desk light on, her room looked like a cozy cave, her bed very inviting, and she was glad to slip under the duvet and lay her head on the pillow. A chink of orange light leaked around the curtains to make a line on the wall, and Danni focused on it as she contemplated her busy day and the romance that was unfolding within the letters. It felt a little intrusive reading them, but it wasn’t like she’d ripped open sealed envelopes, she reasoned. Maybe she could find out where Saffron was staying this year and return them to her.

With that thought hovering in her mind, Danni drifted off to sleep.

[To be Continued …]

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

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