Dearest,
I write these words from the crossroad we made. The sun has set, There are no stars, no moon.
In the listless breeze I’m getting ready to leave.
With this letter I leave a cardboard box.
The menu from “Bistro chez Jules”
That pink unused onesie
The vase from your mother.
My wedding ring and other knick-knack
All those memories I leave behind.
You can do whatever you can make of it.A parka for your soul or something to burn. It will probably bring you pain but I have ceased to care.
My dear, I have iterated all the what-ifs during long sleepless nights. I know you did it too but my destiny is elsewhere, a place where to sleep.
You may curse me if you want, I know you suffered too, but together we only made it worse.
Forever never xxx
Lisa hosts Prosery today at dVerse with the given lines:
Make of it a parka
For your soul.
— Alice Walker, from Before you knew you owned it
It was a long time since I wrote prose in terms of a letter, but for some reason that felt natural with the given lines.
February 17, 2025
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Bjorn, brilliant writing. Letter format does work so well with the story you tell. Two things stand out for me, his considering the wedding ring a knick-knack; and how he closes it. Hoping you put this one in your keeper folder.
Thank you… the list of things in the box is an idea that i thought would tell a story of sorts.
You’re welcome. The onesie reminds me of “for sale: baby shoes. unworn” that I read somewhere. Heartrending!
Idles included it in one of their songs:
Yes, that was my thought
p.s. Also wanted to say that the crossroads also suggests an X marks the spot.
Bjorn, you’ve nailed the letter writing and use of the line. Reminds me of Pandora’s box in more of a dark setting perhaps? The specific details are wonderful.
Thank you, letters are often good to use for fiction…
Some heavy duty choices made at this crossroad, Bjorn. These choices are not made glibly or without thought.
Well done.
I’m so impressed with how you broke the prompt line up. And the goodbye letter form was perfect.
Exceedingly deep and moving Björn – depicting the pain and relief of a breakup succinctly. 💔
I just wanted to clap my hands in admiration, Bjorn. Brilliant writing!
I just wanted to clap my hands at the end of your story, Bjorn! A brilliant piece of writing. Loved the ‘forever never’ finale.
I love that you wrote an epistolary piece of Prosery, Björn, and the way you set the scene at the dark crossroads: ‘no stars, no moon’ and a ‘listless breeze’. I also love the contents of the cardboard box. But how sad the situation.
It felt great to be able to pack so much into 144 words…. sad but maybe also a relief in the end…
This is breathtakingly, achingly, heartbreakingly beautiful and sad.
I love that this line illustrates how the sleeplessness is due to the relationship, and that it will be resolved now that the letter-writer has made the big decision.
“my destiny is elsewhere, a place where to sleep.”
Thank you – sometimes it is the only way I think
Bjorn, the raw emotion in your letter is striking. It conveys the heaviness of parting with such depth.
Much love,
David
Thank you- writing fiction is great
*hug*
Rhe letter form was just right, with the hard edges, tor the universal theme of goodye, I am leaving you, that surely resonates with so many…
too much sadness to cope with the marriage– sigh. lovely writing!
My goodness, this is a sad write … but I am understanding the necessity. Great write, Bjorn.
Such a poignant letter
Outstanding writing Björn – a great piece of fiction in letter form. I am experimenting in the novel I am working on, with skipping through a decade by means of an exchange of letters – this was such a great example of the form….
That was fantastic, Bjorn! I loved it!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
A mixture of feelings in this for me, melancholy, pathos in the midst.