houses down. I never knew how to say he

but with a kind of quiet dread. The kind that build

er, her pulse fluttering l

hispered, "j

der, then back at her. "I

clo

reet. Sa

omach

she ask

ly answered, the name landed lik

n Tho

bli

ted. "But... he mo

month. Quietly. He's living w

ndow. "That doesn't make sense

r," Kai said. "Not really

etter still open in her hand.

forgotte

oats with her in the rain. He used to sit with her be

day - he

goo

rea

d just folded his absence into h

s later..

he want?" s

rugged

d. "Why are yo

ression softened, the way it only ev

ou to read a hundred letters from s

ed at him

e's dangerou

know how to be real with you. So he writes. H

d swept throu

ad more to say - something

one more time," he sa

ppeared into

, Aria found

e was d

the win

ide her

ages she hadn't

hook as she

ecause you stopped talking to me. But

my father's car was already running. I kept th

sorry I let silence bec

e to you again. Even if i

the letter

mbered t

he way he'd whispered, "If this floats all th

made it t

ybe El

ked to the edge of the forest trail - the place

expect him

he

tree, legs crossed, a s

is eyes were a little sadder. But the c

r and sto

ink you'd co

him, unsure

r letters,

nod

hould've come to your door. I just.

didn't know I stil

them, not uncomfortable

d. "Or to feel anything. I just wanted you

on the bench,

" she admitted. "But I kno

kind of light that comes

d her the

ned it

re all th

sing

d by

very end, ther

em. Not

ds, written i

ime, I'