A Love Stained Letter

To the love of my life,

It has been years and yet it only seems days. I have loved you from the beginning, when your hand first grasped mine, and we walked along the river's edge. It was perfection born on my grandfather's farm. How readily I would have given myself to you had you but asked!

It took you awhile, but you finally did. When I slipped my chaperon, met you at the clearing near the stream, my heart soared. Our arms entwined, our lips locked, and I had my first taste of sweet passionate love. In my dreams at night, I return to that clearing; I can still feel the grass beneath my back, smell the jasmine growing wild, hear the water trickling by, and see the sunlight play across your face....

You stole my heart that day. Oh, I know it could never have lasted, not with the family name to upkeep, but to dream! I remember returning day after day to lay along the water's edge, yearning for you to join me. The delight when you arrived nearly overshadowing the work of your hands, the sweetness of your kisses, the head rush of pure bliss brought forth by your touch.

We parted amiably, though not forever. My engagement drove us apart, but quelled not my desires. Our secret has burned within my soul these long months. I sometimes sit here at my window and gaze at nothing, wishing we could be together again.

As I write this letter, I cry. Tomorrow I am to marry Richard, but there is no room in my heart for him. He will find out soon enough, and I pray that you are safe. As a final gift before I wed, I offer you my heart, the same that you unwittingly stole when we were but foolish girls dancing in the field. Do with it as you see fit while I attempt to build a life as Mrs. Whitmore and fill my empty chest with memories of marriage.

Forever Your Beloved Jewel,
Julia


On the day of her wedding, Julia's maid of honor made the gruesome discovery. Slumped over her writing desk, the bride-to-be, in a snow white sleeping gown, clutched the blooded dagger she had used to cut out her heart. The police declared her death a suicide, though no one could explain how she had managed to package her pulsing organ into a gift box. The tag on the box held no name of the intended recipient, so Julia's groom never knew that his beloved's heart belonged to his sister.