Dear John, Sincerely Sherlock

Dear John,

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 22:18:33 -0400

It’s been one year, one day, five hours, seventeen minutes, thirty-two seconds since I died.

How can you still not have figured it out?

-SH

Dear John,

Sat, 19 May 2012 02:18:08 -0400

I saw you, from the street. I can tell from your collar that you’ve met someone. I can tell from the way you carry yourself that you’ve not bothered to sort out the return of your psychosomatic limp.

And I can tell from the lines on your face that you think I’m definitely dead.

I’m sorry, John. I’m so sorry.

-SH

Dear John,

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:42:03 -0400

I can’t sleep tonight. Too many unsolved problems keeping me up. Too many impossible thoughts. Are you kept awake too, by the doubts in your head? Do you lie awake at night in your bed? Or have you moved on? Are you all right?

-SH

Dear John,

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:20:26 -0400

Can you really not figure it out? You still don’t know I’m alive? It’s so obvious! Don’t be DULL!

-SH

Dear John,

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:13:18 -0400

Pass me my phone, would y- …oh. Nevermind.

-SH

Dear John,

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:47:41 -0400

I need a word that’s more sincere than ‘sorry’.

-SH

Dear John,

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:18:30 -0400

I’ve been out of milk for over a month. Logically, I know it won’t replace itself - but I got so used to sending you for it that getting it myself seems… wrong. I still find myself buying your favourite biscuits.

-SH

Dear John,

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:50:48 -0500

The 007 movies are insipid. But I keep putting them on anyway.

-SH

Dear John,

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:25:52 -0500

Do you still live in the flat? I wouldn’t think less of you if you’d moved. I find it hard enough living in a flat without you with you alive. I can’t imagine doing it thinking you were dead.

-SH

Dear John,

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:28:55 -0500

I hope this is the first and last time I ever have to lie to you. You deserve to know the truth. So, I’ll write you these letters, even if I never send a one.

-SH