From there, I sent him a letter every chance I could.I told him about my days, the small-town drama, and always ended by telling him I hoped he was doing well and signed itLove, S.
To my surprise, after my third letter to him, I received one back.That might have been the greatest day of my life.Finally, I had a relationship with the man I’d been crushing on for years.
Our letters continued for the next three years.We sent hundreds of letters back and forth.He told me about bootcamp, about becoming a Green Beret, about his deployments.I told him about my college classes, my dreams for the future, and my adventures around town with Rowan.
Our letters and relationship changed over the years.We started sharing more personal stuff with each other, talking about our hopes, dreams, and fears.He sent me photos of himself and some with his buddies.
He begged me so many times over the years to tell him my name, to send pictures, to meet him, but I never did.I chickened out every time.I thought about how he ignored me in high school, how he never gave me the time of day.I was afraid he would be disappointed when he met me in real life, and I couldn’t handle it.
Not until I moved to Wolf Valley.
I knew that with a move, I needed a fresh start.I needed to let go of this crush.So, in my last letter to Devon, I told him about my move.I told him that this would be my last letter to him, and I signed it with my full name.
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I knew I needed to let him go.I needed to move on—or try to.Being in love with a guy I’d probably never see again wasn’t healthy.
Unfortunately, after months of no contact, I still think about him a hundred times a day.
“Suri?”
Rowan’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, I’m still here.”
“I only asked about Devon because I have some news about him,” she says.“Do you want to hear it?”
I lick my lips, my heart racing in my chest.I’m desperate for any news about Devon, but I know it will only hurt any small progress I may have made in getting over him.
“No,” I whisper.
“Okay,” Rowan says simply.“I was thinking about coming up for a visit before school starts in August.”
“Really?”I scream excitedly.
She laughs.“Yeah, if you can take a few days off work?Or maybe I could come up for a long weekend or something?”
“Sure, either one!Oh my gosh!I’m so excited!”
“Me too.I’ll look at dates and let you know.”
“Sounds good.”
I hear a male voice call her name in the background—Grant must have just gotten home.
“I’ll let you go,” I tell her.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” she promises.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
We hang up, and I look around my small apartment.I need to do laundry and go grocery shopping before work tomorrow.Then maybe I’ll curl up on the couch and read that new romance book that came out the other day.
My gaze snags on my laptop, and I chew on my bottom lip as I think about signing up for a dating site.
I should do it today.I’ve been putting it off for too long.
I take a step toward my computer, then pause.
