writing our story.— [sofia + lorenzo letters]

Dearest Lorenzo,

I hope this letter finds you well, I just wanted to say I really enjoyed our time together at the fair. I considered not writing you this, in all honesty. I told my dad we were nothing serious the day we spoke at the bonfire. Yet here I am, writing to you. Funny how that works, isn't it? Not that we're anything serious, I just didn't think I'd talk to you much after. Guess plans changed. You're more charming than I gave you credit for, I must admit.

I wanted to wish you luck... well your sister luck. Quinn, right? The reaping is coming up, and our families don't have the best of luck with that, do they? I pray that Yani is safe. I already lost Raquel, I don't know if I'd be able to handle losing her too. Or Papa, it would probably give him another stroke. I joke, but I'm dead serious about that. Losing Yani would probably be too much for him to handle, for any of us to handle. We've already lost so much. Yet the loss never seems to end...

Sorry if that's a little bit of a buzzkill. I just had to address the elephant in the room of our sisters. Remind me to call you on reaping day, make sure Quinn is alright. And if she's not, don't hesitate to reach out. I know myself and my parents will do everything we can to help your family out. You're good people, Lorenzo. That's what my dad told me when I asked him if he was okay with me dating you. And you showed me that. You're a good person through and through. I'm glad I decided to keep this friendship going past the fair.

Boy, this is getting a bit long, isn't it? You're probably bored as hell reading through these pages of me writing on and on and on. I guess I'm really an Izar. Izars like to tell stories. The stories of our past. Of our family. Of our relationships. Of our ancestors. In a way, you and I are sort of writing our own story, aren't we? In brighter news, I included a page out of a magazine about you. Apparently you're irrelevant, funny how that works, isn't it?

Oh! Before you forget, you probably want updates on the puppy I adopted, Chiquita. She's doing good! Took her a little while to adjusted being in the shop so much, but she's become a little couch potato. Literally, after all we have couches in the shop. All of the guests seem to love her. A couple regulars have even started bringing in treats for her whenever they come in. I bet she misses you, though. You seemed to take really good care of all of those puppies.

Despite how "irrelevant" some magazine says you are, you probably have more important things than to read my essays all day. I can try to be more concise in the future. Maybe ask Papa for some help, after all he can't just ramble on forever in his speeches. That's the thing about me, my mouth has no filter. So when I write, neither does my pen. I come from a family of strong women who speak their mind, sometimes I worry it results in me speaking too much. Get what I mean? Ah look at me, rambling again!

Write back soon and stay safe,
Sofia Izar