I glance at him and let my guard drop, letting him see it all. "Forever her dragon," I murmur.
David grumbles under his breath and runs a hand through his hair. "You make it hard to hate you."
"Feel free to continue if it's easier for her."
He sighs. "You know she wouldn't want that."
"Yeah,” I reply sadly.
We drive the rest of the way in silence, both of us lost for words. I know he's resented me for a year because of Rianna, and the tension between us is thick. He's Charlie and Amelia's friend, not mine, and being seen with me only complicates things for him. But this mess is mine to clean up, and I have to face it head-on.
Before I can leave, he leans in, forearms on the window, and looks at me. "Keaton, you're not a bad guy. You just made a bad call. I think you've learned, and I believe you regret it. But I'm not the one you need to prove it to. There's a lot of work ahead if you want to fix what you broke." He smirks. "And for the record, this doesn't make us friends. But if you ever want a beer or more ink, I might just say yes."
For the first time in months, a small spark of hope stirs inside me.
It's barely there, but it exists.
I can choose to nurture it or let it die.
One path might lead to redemption, while the other will bury me in ruin.
My fingers itch with the urge to reach out to Charlie, the only way I know how. There's so much I need to say to her, so I choose to nurture that hope.
I choose hope.
I choose redemption.
I fucking choose Charlie.
The Letter
Hello, my pretty little butterfly.
Do you remember that sun-drenched day at the treehouse when we were eight? You twirled in a frilly white dress scattered with blue daisies, your golden curls tumbling down your back, crowned with wildflowers my mom wove just for you. Barefoot as always, your toes were painted the same blue as the daisies, a tiny detail that made you even more enchanting. Your mama brusheda little makeup on your cheeks, and though it looked out of place, it still made my palms sweat.
I never understood why you were so dressed up that day, but seeing you like that filled me with a wild, secret joy. You were the most beautiful thing my young eyes had ever seen. The way you smiled at me sent my heart into a dizzy spin. Back then, I didn’t know what it meant, but now, all these years later, I do.
Do you remember what we did that day, butterfly?
We were getting married, or at least pretending to. My mama squeezed me into that scratchysuit, and I grumbled until you grabbed my hand and pulled me up into our treehouse chapel.
You and our mamas had transformed the treehouse into something magical. Twinkling lights dangled from every corner, and flowers crowded every surface, their sweet scent making my nose twitch.
When you whispered that it was our wedding day, I thought happiness had reached its peak. Even at eight, I knew I was yours, and you were mine.
I always pictured us having a real wedding someday. I imagined you gliding down the aisle on your daddy’s arm, radiant in white, and uspromising forever. I thought we’d grow old together, our skin wrinkled and our hair turned silver.
Back then, I was so damn sure nothing in the world could ever pull us apart.
I never imagined I’d be foolish enough to risk losing you. From the moment you looked at me with those clear, icy blue eyes, I made it my mission to protect you from everything. I wanted to shield you from every hurt the world could throw your way. Neither of us could have guessed that I’d be the one you needed protection from most.
Every morning, I wake to empty arms that once held you close, and I wonder how I let us end up here. How I could have been so blind,letting someone else come between us. I hope one day I can find the answer for both of us.
I'm sorry, Charlie. I know they're just words that don't really mean anything coming from me, but I'll never stop saying them. My words aren't shit right now. I don't know if they ever will be again, to be honest. After what I did, I'll never blame you. The only thing I can do is prove to you, through my actions, that my words are true.
Every day, I discover new depths to the pain I’ve caused you, and each day it gets harder to bear. You are a beautiful beacon of light, and if you weren’t as fiercely strong as you are, I might have snuffed it out.
I am so proud of you, pretty girl. You haven’t let my mistakes change the heart of who you are.
