On Writing & Storytelling: A Letter Written by the Protagonist

On Writing and Storytelling: A Letter Written by the Protagonist

I wish for so many things, Marty. I hope you understand what I’m trying to tell you. I love you, my dear Marty, and I always will.

Jim Garraty in Reunion: A Story

Confessions of a High School Heart: Jim’s Unspoken Words to Marty

In the tender years of high school, where every emotion is magnified and every moment feels eternal, Jim Garraty pens a heartfelt confession to Martina Elizabeth Reynaud—his affectionately termed Marty. This letter, a raw outpouring of adolescent love and longing, was crafted with the earnestness that only a first love can inspire. Scribbled in the looping curves of cursive on the humble lines of notebook paper, it is a testament to the sincerity and fervor of young love. Sealed within an envelope that bears the weight of unspoken words, it awaits Marty’s eyes only after the finality of graduation, a threshold between their shared past and uncertain futures.

The Letter (Excerpted from Reunion: A Story)

Wednesday, June 15, 1983

My dearest Martina,

I’m not sure if I am doing the right thing by telling you this now, or if I should tell you this at all. I wish I had the answers. 

I can’t believe our three years at SMSH have come to an end. It seems as though only yesterday we were sophomores starting our high school years. I can close my eyes and see you exactly as you were that moment when you stepped into Mrs. Quincy’s third Period class – you looked so cute and sweet. Since that day in 1981 I have come to know you pretty well. You are not only a beautiful young woman, but you’re also kind, thoughtful and intelligent.

I know I have picked an awful time to tell you this, Marty, but I have been in love with you for a long time. Perhaps not in the beginning, for 3 years ago I was having a hard time coping with the end of a two-year relationship with someone who, unfortunately, was unfaithful. I was hurt and terribly insecure. In some ways I still am hurt and insecure. That having been said, however, the truth is that somewhere along the line, I fell in love with you.

I didn’t tell you before for various reasons. First, I suppose, is the fact that in 10th grade you were seeing someone else, and you seemed to be happy back then. I never expected that you and Kenny would go your separate ways, but then I thought my own relationship with my ex-girlfriend would last forever, too.

Life, I have learned, is full of surprises.

Martina, I’ve loved you not just because you are one of the prettiest women I’ve known. Your looks are, of course, part of what attracts me to you. But you are the one of the most generous and sweetest souls that I have met in my 18 years, and you are the one person who has the ability to brighten up a sour day. You have always managed to make me return a smile to someone else.

As I write this, I can hear the clock ticking. There isn’t much time left to our last day of high school. I wish I had enough time to tell you how I feel about you, but I haven’t the courage, the words, the space or the time to fully express my feelings. I looked at my watch just now – 1:39 p.m. to be precise. I wish for so many things, Marty. I hope you understand what I’m trying to tell you. I love you, my dear Marty, and I always will.

With all my love and affection,

Jim

Analysis of Teenage Jim’s Writing Style and Its Harmony with His 2000 Era Self

Teenage Jim’s writing style in the letter is marked by a sense of immediacy and emotional vulnerability. His language is straightforward yet evocative, reflecting the intensity of his feelings for Marty. He employs vivid imagery, as seen in his recollection of Marty entering the classroom, which suggests a keen eye for detail and a romantic inclination—a trait that likely endures into his adult years.

In contrast, Jim’s 2000 era version, as he interacts with Maddie, might exhibit a more refined and mature communication style. However, the core elements of his teenage self—sentimentality, a tendency towards introspection, and a deep capacity for affection—are likely to remain intact. His relationship with Maddie, characterized by intellectual stimulation and emotional depth, suggests that Jim has grown into someone who values substance and sincerity in his connections.

The teenage letter’s style, with its heartfelt confessions and unguarded admissions, aligns with the adult Jim’s appreciation for Maddie’s loyalty and uninhibited affections. The continuity between the two periods is evident in Jim’s consistent expression of love and his enduring sentimentality. The evolution of his style from the raw expressiveness of youth to the nuanced articulation of adulthood mirrors the growth of his character, yet the essence of his voice remains unchanged. Jim’s capacity to love deeply, first revealed in his letter to Marty, is what ultimately defines his relationship with Maddie, making his narrative a cohesive and compelling journey of the heart.