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English
Series:
Part 7 of I'm grateful for you
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Published:
2024-10-24
Words:
996
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
63
Kudos:
194
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12
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1,606

Saw a billboard, it said something like...

Summary:

So Charlie has been in hospital for a month.
And its Nick's first time visiting him.
He takes with him the box of gifts from the Paris Squad.
Inside is something Nick has been working on.
Something special...

Notes:

Happy Birthday my lovely friend! ❤️🍂❤️

For those of you that may not know Nomad writes the most beautifully poignant, moving and often emotional oneshots that are usually no more than a few hundred words and yet manage to convey such depth of feelings that I always come away having read one feeling a little bit brighter, a little bit lighter.

My thanks go to Pocketfamily for organising this little series of fics in honour of your birthday, and I'm so happy to be a small part of it. So this my friend, is my gift to you. Nick has written a new letter (well he's written a bunch) but this is the first one, and just my way of saying thank you. As someone who has always been so supportive of my writing from the very beginning, offering me words of encouragement when I've suffered from imposter syndrome, self-doubt, hideous writers block, you name it, you have always not only lifted my spirits but helped me believe in myself when I've needed it most.

I am so grateful for you,
Erin 💙🍂💛

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Charlie sat cross-legged on his bed, the light from his bedside lamp casting soft shadows on the walls. Nick, Tori and his parents had just left after their visit, the echo of their voices still lingering in his mind. His heart felt a little fuller, a little lighter, after seeing them, but now it was just him, alone again with his thoughts. He ran his hand tentatively over the lid of the box in front of him. It was beautifully decorated with a planet, stars, leaves and flowers clearly painted by Elle. “It was my idea, because you’re my whole world,” Nick had whispered earlier.

He lifted the lid and took a moment to look at all the wonderful gifts his friends had given him. They’d each contributed something, and even though Charlie felt emotionally drained from the visit, a sense of warmth and gratitude blossomed inside him.

Charlie carefully sifted through the contents of the box: a rainbow notebook from Tara for him to use as a journal, Darcy’s made-up pack of gay top trumps, face masks and his favourite hair products from Sahar and Imogen, Elle’s handmade bracelet in rainbow colours with everyone’s initials on it, Isaac’s booklist and Tao’s blu-ray copy of The Goonies, Charlie’s favourite film. He smiled softly as he ran his fingers over all the different items. This box was like a little piece of home, reminding him that he was loved, even if his brain sometimes tried to convince him otherwise.

But there was one thing in the box Charlie was looking for in particular, so he gently moved the other items aside until he found the neat stack of envelopes tied up in a yellow ribbon resting at the bottom. His heart skipped a beat. Written in Nick’s handwriting, neat, careful and so distinctly his, the top one simply said dear charlie… open this one first.

He unfolded the letter, taking a deep breath before his eyes began to scan Nick’s familiar handwriting.

Hi Char,

God I’m so happy I get to see you today. I can’t even tell you how much. When Tori messaged to say you wanted to see me, I couldn’t stop smiling. Like I was actually buzzing. Like a little buzzy bee. Not just because I get to see you but because I’m hoping it means you’re maybe starting to feel a bit stronger and fuck if that’s just about the best news ever. I think about how strong you are every day Char. Even when you don’t feel like it, even when your brain is telling you you're small and weak, I still see it. Your strength. It’s always there. You’re the strongest person I know, Charlie Spring. And you’re doing something incredibly brave by focusing on your mental health. God I am so fucking proud of you.

When you said I could tell the Paris Squad what was going on, we came up with the idea of this box. Tara kept banging on at me to try journalling (and I know she’s put one in here for you too, you really should give it a go, she swears by it) but I just didn’t get on with it. So then I tried writing you a letter (don't laugh!) and well, it’s probably going to sound stupid but it made me feel closer to you, so then I ended up writing you another one. And um yeah, I’ve written you one every day since then.

Because I miss you Char. So much. But I’m not going to dwell on that because you know that’s a given right? I miss you every day. But it’s worth it to know you are where you’re supposed to be right now and getting the help you need. So just know I’m doing okay. And all I want is for you to focus on you, on getting better, put all your energy into that. I’ve got the guys who are all being amazing and I’m so grateful for them. Even Darcy! I mean I know, who’d have thought it?! But I think their brand of chaos is actually what I need right now. Just don’t tell them I said that or I’ll never hear the end of it.

So yeah, the letters. I guess like I said, writing one every evening, just telling you about my day, has kind of helped me feel connected to you, and I was thinking maybe you could read one every day too and it’d be like I’m leaving a piece of me here with you. You didn’t feel so far away when I was writing them, so maybe you’ll feel closer to me when you read them.

Shit your parents and Tori are due here any minute so I’d better wrap this up. I still can’t believe I get to see you today! Fuck I can’t wait. I hope I get to hug you, and hold your hand and maybe even kiss you. God I want to kiss you so badly Charlie Spring.

I love you Char, with all my heart.
Nick xxx

Charlie’s hands shook slightly as he lowered the letter, blinking back the tears that had formed in his eyes. He pressed it gently to his chest, feeling the weight of Nick’s love wrap around him like a blanket. He hadn’t realised just how much he needed to hear those words, to be reminded that, even when things felt dark and uncertain, there were people waiting for him. People who loved him.

Charlie lay back on his bed, clutching the letter close, his heart a little steadier now. He wasn’t alone. Nick, his friends, his family, they were all there, even when he couldn’t see them.

The little glimmer of hope he’d begun to feel started to flicker a bit brighter.

He would get through this.

He already felt stronger.

And he knew Nick would be there to support him every step of the way.

One letter at a time.

 

Notes:

Big thanks to Gamma and Phoenix for your support and beta skills with this, I wouldn't be posting this without your help. Nor would it just be shy of the 1,000 word limit either! ❤️❤️

So there we go. Nick has been writing letters again. To be honest, I've had this idea rattling around in my head probably for the best part of a year now, but I wanted to wait to see how s3 tackled Charlie's hospital stay before I started working on them. And I've kind of ended up taking the view that given all the research Nick was seen doing to help him know how to support Charlie, and the conversation he had with Sarah on the beach (canon) and his Auntie Diane (in the show) that he would very much try to keep his letters as upbeat as possible and not dwell too much on how he's feeling and his struggles. So with that in mind, the rest of his letters will be coming soon... 💙💛

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