The Letter at the Window

Hana received a short message from a friend saying she would not be coming. She read it twice, and a familiar frustration filled her. She wrote a long reply about arrangements that were not honoured, and about always being the one left waiting. Before she could send it, a gust of wind stirred a sheet of paper near the window. She got up to hold it in place beneath a book.

From there she saw a woman outside the building opposite trying to open a stuck umbrella. A man passing by helped her, and the two went their separate ways. Hana returned to her phone. She read what she had written, then read her friend’s message on its own. There was an apology and a promise to explain later. The reason she had imagined was not there.

Hana saved her reply as a draft and sent a short message asking whether her friend was all right. When they were able to talk that evening, she learned that a difficult day had disrupted their plans. Hana said she had been worried and upset, and asked for earlier notice whenever possible. They arranged another time to meet. Then she deleted the draft and opened the window a little.