Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1) by N.A. Alcorn Read Free Book Online Page B

every perfect moment—that brought so much meaning into my life. You are my first love and you will forever hold a precious place in my heart—a place that I’m not sure anyone will ever be able to touch.
    I truly hope that you’re happy. That you’re living. That you’re still being the fun-loving, spontaneous Nix I’ve come to love so much.
    This is the last letter I will send you. I guess this is goodbye…
    Love,
    Sloan

 
    June 1 st , 2000
    Meli,
    It’s been two years since I first laid eyes on your gorgeous face. And it’s been six months since I last spoke to you, received a letter from you…
    I honestly don’t know which is worse…the nightmares I have while I’m asleep or the thoughts of you that bombard me while I’m awake. Ripping my heart out of my chest would be less painful than this. I’ve come to the pathetic realization that having a broken heart is like having broken ribs. On the outside, everyone thinks I’m fine, but on the inside, every fucking breath hurts.
    I know the distance that separates us is tough. The infrequent phone calls and letters make it hard to stay together, but I just wish I knew what the final breaking point was for you.
    I think that’s what makes this so fucking hard. The unknown. The uncertainty that comes along with never hearing what made you stop calling and writing. I respect your reasons and I’m sure my family’s last-minute move to L.A. didn’t help matters, but I just wish I could have heard your voice one more time. I wish that I could have actually said goodbye.
    Sometimes I find myself feeling like you gave up on me…on us.
    But then I remind myself that sometimes giving up doesn’t always mean you’re weak. Maybe it means that you were strong enough to let go. And I could never deny the strength you possess inside you.
    Fuck, I just wish I knew when this pain would end.
    When will you no longer be a recurrent thought for me?
    I feel like you’re still ingrained in every goddamn cell in my body.
    I even looked up how long it takes for the body to replace every single cell of the human body with new ones. Seven years was the answer I got. Seven fucking years. Apparently, that’s how long it will take for my heart to be brand new. Seven fucking years and maybe I’ll be over this hurt. Seven fucking years and maybe the unwavering ache that eats at me every single day will be gone.
    Seven years…
    It only took a second for you to yell out to me that day at Diamond Head Beach, and in an instant, you changed my life. But now I’m faced with…seven years. I try to tell myself that this time frame will work, that in seven years I won’t feel like this, but I know it’s not true.
    I know that the only time I’ll get over you is when forever comes.
    It will literally take me forever to say goodbye to you.
    Even six months later, I still find myself thinking about you, about us, about all of the moments we spent together. I look back on those times and it makes it impossible for me to hate you. I’m incapable of feeling anything but love for you. I guess you really know how much you love someone when you can’t even bring yourself to hate them for breaking your heart.
    Honestly, I think hating you would be easier…but I just can’t do it.
    I only want you to be happy, to have a good life, to continue to be the girl I adore more than anyone else in this world. Keep your sass and feistiness. Keep marching to your own tune and being the girl who made me understand what it means to truly live.
    Just find your happiness, Meli.
    My heart is still yours.
    Nix
    P.S. This still isn’t goodbye for me. I know it should be, but I just can’t say it.
    I’m still going to end with…see you soon.

LIFE IS JUST ONE, ENDLESS sweeping curve with an infinite amount of turning points.
    The life-altering turns, the unexpected points—they are not what define a person; they simply assist in final decisions and the shaping of the future.
    Sloan Walker knows better