Eli's gift to Cassius is a circlet with real crystals as dewdrops, and he has drawn a portrait of Cassius in charcoal, as Eli saw him while teaching him to swim in the lake. Hair wreathing his head like a wispy halo, small smile pulling at his lip, big doe eyes that shine in the sunlight, and ripples in big circles around him. There is actually a letter with it, penned in scrawling cursive.
My heart,
I'm not always great at expressing myself in words but I wanted you to have something to hold onto in case anything ever happens to me.
If I hadn't met you, I don't know where I would be right now. You've made my life in Karteria bearable from day one, and I can't imagine it without you anymore. I can't think about losing you without losing my mind, so I just try not to. You're one of the kindest people I've ever met, and your curiosity about the world softens my hard heart. You bring me joy every day, and you make even the most horrible things feel survivable, even bearable.
Thank you for your endless patience with my rough edges and my reckless rage. I know I am not an easy person to be with because of the trouble I tend to get into. I am going to try to make more of an effort to keep you in mind before doing stupid things. I don't want to cause you stress.
Know that I would burn the world down to make you safe, but you've also taught me how to enjoy building things up rather than destroying. Whether planting a garden, making art, dressing up, or building each other up in confidence, I love the little life we've built together, and I want to keep taking care of you and making you happy every day forever.
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Date: 2025-12-25 07:01 pm (UTC)My heart,
I'm not always great at expressing myself in words but I wanted you to have something to hold onto in case anything ever happens to me.
If I hadn't met you, I don't know where I would be right now. You've made my life in Karteria bearable from day one, and I can't imagine it without you anymore. I can't think about losing you without losing my mind, so I just try not to. You're one of the kindest people I've ever met, and your curiosity about the world softens my hard heart. You bring me joy every day, and you make even the most horrible things feel survivable, even bearable.
Thank you for your endless patience with my rough edges and my reckless rage. I know I am not an easy person to be with because of the trouble I tend to get into. I am going to try to make more of an effort to keep you in mind before doing stupid things. I don't want to cause you stress.
Know that I would burn the world down to make you safe, but you've also taught me how to enjoy building things up rather than destroying. Whether planting a garden, making art, dressing up, or building each other up in confidence, I love the little life we've built together, and I want to keep taking care of you and making you happy every day forever.
I love you.
Your Elijah