It was easier to just stick to the basics. “Our parents knew each other for quite a while and they had introduced us when we were young. We never really saw each other too often, especially after Lukas went off to some fancy boarding school for a while. We didn't end up seeing each other again until our senior year of high school. That's…” Mathias forced a smile, “when we became a couple.” Just saying those words made him feel nauseous.

“He went off to a boarding school?” Christopher raised his eyebrows in surprise, letting out a low whistle. “Do you know why? It seems weird to just suddenly up and move to a new school…”

Shrugging, Mathias plopped himself down onto the roof, leaning back on the palms of his hands as he stared up at the cotton ball clouds that dotted the sky, Christopher soon joining him. “His parents had been getting really busy with their jobs, so they needed the time to be able to travel uninhibited for their work, and it was better for them to just send him off to a boarding school rather than him be stuck alone at home.”

At that, Christopher frowned, his eyebrows scrunching together. It appeared as though something was troubling him, though Mathias couldn't even begin to fathom what it might be. “That must've been awful…to just be shipped off like that…” he said eventually, shaking his head.

“Life sucks sometimes,” Mathias agreed, letting out a breath as his eyes slipped closed. “He always did end up saying that he was thankful to get the hockey training out of it that he did, though, and he is one of the better players on our team.” As much as he hated to admit it, Lukas still was a good hockey player, no matter how much he hated that Lukas was using and manipulating him. Mathias couldn't deny skill.

Christopher didn't say anything, seeming to be deep in thought, but Mathias didn't mind. It gave him more time to think and try to relax. As always, he found his mind drifting to happier days, younger days.

“Alright, class. Today we will be working on writing a proper letter. We have been paired up with another school in this program, and each of you will write a letter to one of the other students,” the teacher explained as she walked around the classroom, handing out the pieces of paper with each student's information on it.

A collective groan rose from half of the class, all of whom would rather be outside playing instead of doing actual work as any ten year old would. Mathias himself was apprehensive about the assignment, not necessarily feeling the desire to share his life's story with a complete stranger. It wasn't as though they would end up becoming friends, because Mathias knew that once his assignment partner ended up finding out about his parents and the type of money that his family had, then it would all end up devolving into a bunch of pleas for Mathias to end up sending them stuff. He already had enough of people in his school doing that; he didn't want to have to hear it from another.

Still, he wrote his letter as he was supposed to, talking about his hobbies and sports he played, about his golden retriever Solski, and about his family and how his parents were always busy so he usually spent his time alone or occasionally with their butler François. The taste of the stamp was horrible, Mathias placing the little square on the corner of the envelope with a grimace and writing Willem's name in the middle. He wasn't expecting much in return, but at least he got a good grade for the assignment, so that was what mattered, right?

Nevertheless, he still couldn't help the anxious feeling that remained in his stomach as the days dragged by, waiting for the day that his letter would be returned. At several points, Mathias began to think that the Willem kid that he had written to wasn't going to end up writing a letter in response, but that was more due to the impatience of a young boy than any length of time that passed. In reality, it only took a week for the letters to be returned, though Mathias could've sworn that it had been at least a month.

While most of the others tore into their letters right then and there, Mathias waited, saving that experience for when he was alone within the safety of his room where he could savor the response in private. His hands trembled with anticipation as he cautiously opened the letter. Part of him wasn’t expecting too much out of this assignment, that he would just end up being shown once again how trivial and pointless it was to be around humans. The other part of him wanted to still have hope that this time would be different, and as his gaze pored over the meticulously neat writing that lined the page, he was glad that he still had hope.

~

Dear Mathias Tyrsen,

My name is Willem, and I really liked the letter that you sent. You sound like a really cool person, and I know that I’m looking forward to writing to each other more.

My favorite hobbies to do are reading, writing, swimming, and surfing, but above anything else, I love art and taking care of animals and flowers, even though I keep getting teased that flowers are girly…

I think it’s cool that I’m also on my school’s soccer team, just like you are! I bet it would be fun to play together someday. I know I would really look forward to it a lot. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite flowers are tulips and forget-me-nots.

Your dog, Solski, sounds adorable. I’ve always wanted to have a dog, but my little brother is allergic to them. So instead, I have a rabbit named Mimsy. She has really fluffy white fur, and she likes to lay on my lap whenever I draw. I don’t mind it though. (Did you know that rabbits can die from loneliness?)

I have two younger siblings. My sister is Annabel, and she’s eight right now. Then there’s my brother Lysander, and he’s six right now. Our mom works as a costume designer for one of the theaters here, and I get to help her sometimes. Plus I have to help look after Annabel and Lysander when she's busy so she can get work done.

I'm sorry that your parents are never really around. Even with friends, I'm sure that it would end up getting really lonely. I know that I get lonely a lot too. I have my siblings, but it’s a lot of work taking care of them with mom being gone a lot and working so hard to take care of us after our dad disappeared…

I’m glad that you have your butler to help keep you company. I’m sure it makes things easier, knowing that you have somebody there to be by your side when you need it. I don’t really have that many friends either, so I know how lonely life can feel sometimes whenever you don’t have anybody that you can go to talk to about things or to be able to be yourself around. People are pretty mean and stupid either way, which is one of the reasons why I love plants and animals so much.

That’s why I’m glad that I at least have Mimsy to talk to, even though she doesn’t really say anything back. I get worried a lot that when I’m at school that she’ll get too lonely though, and that she won’t be home when I come back. Sorry if that sounds stupid. I’ll try to get a picture of her to send to you next time. I know that you would love her.

Anyways, I should probably stop writing before this letter gets too long. I can’t wait to hear back from you and I look forward to talking to you again soon. Or at least, as soon as the mail gets delivered, which will hopefully be soon.

Sincerely yours,

Willem E. de Fortuyn

P.S. I’ll send some of the poems and drawings that I’ve done next time if you’re interested in seeing them. I wish I could’ve sent them this time, but I’m writing this at school so I can’t get the papers I want to send right now.

P.P.S. Did you know that baby rabbits are called kittens? Rabbits also like to purr when they’re happy and content!