Dear Rosie, (Love Letters #2)

Dear Nathan,

It’s time to let you go.

You don’t know it, but you’ve been saving me for years.

I pretend you read these letters.

I make up your responses in my head.

I pretend you understand.

Pretend you think of me when I think about you.

I pretend a lot of things…

But today is different. Because my dad died today.

It was along time coming. And I feel like I can finally breathe for the first time in my life.

While I was in the waiting room at the hospital, I saw you.

You were being interviewed after a game for catching the winning touchdown.

Your eyes are the same, you know?

Somewhere inside that athlete’s body, you’re still that sweet boy from down the street.

The one who befriended me when no one else would.

I’m so proud of you. And I still miss you. But I’m finally free.

And I need to be free of you too.

Because you don’t read these letters.

Because I don’t send them.

Because even if I could, you probably don’t remember me.

Maybe you’ve forgotten all about me.

And that’s okay.

But I need to stop pretending now.

Goodbye, Nathan.

I’ll always love who you were to me. But this will be my last letter.

Your friend,

The girl from the woods

Something splits inside me.

I drop the letter on top of the box and press my palms intomy eyes.

My blood feels like it’s on fire.