Message In A Bottle

This is a story of a guy who wrote letters to her dead wife telling her how much he missed her in his life.

Letter 1

Dear Catherine:

I’m sorry I haven't talked to you in so long. I feel I’ve been lost no bearings, no compass. I kept crashing into things, a little crazy, I guess. I’ve never been lost before. You were my true north. I could always steer for home when you were my home. Forgive me for being so angry when you left. I still think some mistake's been made and I’m waiting for God to take it back. But I’m doing better now. The work helps me. Most of all, you help me. You came into my dream last night with that smile that always held me like a lover rocked me like a child. All I remember from the dream is a feeling of peace. I woke up with that feeling and tried to keep it alive as long as I could. I'm writing to tell you that I’m on a journey toward that peace. And to tell you I’m sorry about so many things. I 'm sorry I didn’t take better care of you so you never spent a minute being cold or scared or sick. I'm sorry I didn't try harder to find the words to tell you what I was feeling. I'm sorry I never fixed the screen door. I fixed it now. I'm sorry I ever fought with you. I'm sorry I didn't apologize more. I was too proud. I'm sorry I didn't bring you more compliments on everything you wore and every way you fixed your hair. I'm sorry I didn't hold on to you with so much strength that even God couldn’t pull you away.

Signed, ''All my Love, G. ''

Letter 2

Dear Catherine:

There isn't an hour without you in it. I mend the boats, test them and all the while the memories come in like the tide. I thought today of when we were young and you left our world for a bigger world. I was a lot more scared than I would admit. I fought my fear by telling myself you'd come back someday and trying to think of the first thing I'd say when I saw you again. I must have tried out possibilities. What did I finally say? Not much. My mouth wouldn’t work, except to kiss you. When you said, 'I'm here to stay' that said it all. Well, I'm doing it again. I keep imagining what I'd say to you if somehow you came back.

Letter 3

Dear Catherine:

My life began when I found you and I thought it had ended when I failed to save you. I thought that hanging on to your memory was keeping us both alive. But I was wrong. A woman named Theresa showed me that if I was brave enough to open my heart I could love again, no matter how terrible my grief. She made me realize I was only half-alive. It scared me and it hurt. I didn’t 't know how much I needed her till the night she flew away. When that airplane took off, I felt something inside me tear away. And I knew. I should have stopped her. I should've followed her home. And now tomorrow, I’m going to sail to the windy point and I’m going to say goodbye to you. Then I’m going to go to this woman and see if l can win her heart. If I can, I know you'll bless me. And bless us all. If I can’t then I’m still blessed because I’ve had the privilege of loving twice in my life. She gave me that. And if I tell you I love her, as much as I loved you then you'll know the whole story.

Rest in peace, my love.

Garret.

Catherine’s letter

To all the ships at sea and all the ports of call.

To my family and to all friends and strangers.

This is a message and a prayer. The message is that my travels taught me a great truth. I already had what everyone is searching for and few ever find: The one person in the world who I was born to love forever. A person like me, of the Outer Banks and the blue Atlantic mystery. A person rich in simple treasures self-made, self-taught. A harbor where I am forever home. And no wind or trouble or even a little death can knock down this house. The prayer is that everyone in the world can know this kind of love and be healed by it. If my prayer is heard, then there will be an erasing of all guilt and all regret and an end to all anger.

Please, God.

Amen.