He looked at me and his eyes were sad when he said. “Everything is almost
better in Boston. Except the girls. Boston doesn’t have you.”
That made me blush. He kissed me real sweet and then I said to him,
“Boston doesn’t have me yet. Someday I’ll move there and I’ll find you.”
He made me promise. Said if I moved to Boston, everything really would be
better there and it would be the best city in the world.
We kissed some more. And did other things that I won’t bore you with.
Although, that’s not to say they were boring.
They were not.
But then this morning I had to tell him goodbye. And he held me and kissed
me so much, I thought I might die if he let go.
But I didn’t die. Because he let go and here I am. Still living. Still
breathing.
Just barely.
—Lily
I flip to the next page, but then slam the book shut. There’s only
one more entry and I don’t know that I really feel like reading it right
now. Or ever. I put the journal back in my closet, knowing that my
chapter with Atlas is over. He’s happy now.
I’m happy now.
Time can definitely heal all wounds.
Or at least most of them.
I turn off my lamp and then pick up my phone to plug it in. I have
two missed text messages from Ryle and one from my mother.
Ryle: Hey. Naked Truth commencing in 3 . . . 2 . . .
Ryle: I was worried that being in a relationship would add to my
responsibilities. That’s why I’ve avoided them my whole life. I already have
enough on my plate, and seeing the stress my parents’ marriage seemed to
cause them, and the failed marriages of some of my friends, I wanted no
part in something like that. But after tonight, I realized that maybe a lot of
people are just doing it wrong. Because what’s happening between us
doesn’t feel like a responsibility. It feels like a reward. And I’ll fall asleep
wondering what I did to deserve it.
I pull my phone to my chest and smile. Then I screenshot the text
because I’m keeping it forever. I open up the third text message.