Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I wanted to go, but I was also afraid of the unknown. I was leaving everything I knew for a man I’d only been dating for six months. I loved him. I fell fast and hard, but I was still scared. As you know, your dad and I were never close to our families. We had rough childhoods, but it was still all that I knew.
I had a scholarship to the local community college. I wanted to be a teacher, but I was certain that if I gave up that scholarship, my dreams would never come true.
I was wrong, just in case you’re wondering.
One night, the night before he was set to leave, he picked me up, and I was certain I was going to tell him that I couldn’t go with him. Only the opposite happened. He took me on a picnic, something he knew that I loved to do. He bought all of my favorite foods, and we talked and laughed for hours.
Hours, Scarlett. It felt like mere minutes. As we lay back on the blanket and stared up at the night sky, I tried to picture what life was going to be like without him. All that I could see was sadness and missing him. I didn’t want to miss him.
My dream was set. I had a goal, and I was working toward that goal. I had a plan to make a better life for myself. Only when I thought about my future, I needed your dad to be a part of it.
I took a risk. I chose your dad. We went to the justice of the peace the next morning and were married before hitting the road to Idaho. Every adult memory has that man in it. The best part is the love that we shared, that lives on through you.
I don’t know what’s plaguing you, my girl. However, whatever it is, think about your future. Where do you want to be in five years? Ten? Fifteen? Which road will lead you to what you want?
We’ve talked a lot about your photography, and I hope that you pursue that in some way. You are too talented not to share your gift with the world. My hope for you, my daughter, is that you find a man who will love you as your father loved me. When you do, give him your all. Don’t let fear keep you from something amazing.
Life is just a collection of days when you can’t share it with those you love. Our family was small, and I hate that I’m leaving you in this world all alone. I know that he’s out there, Scarlett. When you find him, tell him I said hi. I know that if you love him, your father and I would have too.
Love hard, my daughter. That’s what makes life special. Not our talents, not how much money we make, but the love we share and the memories made from that love. You are my heart, and I know that my love lives on through you. Share that love, Scarlett. Life is too short, not to.
Good luck with your decision.
Love always,
Mom
I feel her here with me. Closing my eyes, I smell her perfume. I don’t know how she knew that I would need her at some point, but her words… they resonated with me. Taking a deep breath, I picture five years. Ten years. Fifteen years. My eyes pop open, and I know what I have to do. I clean up my face as best as I can and put the car in Drive. Checking my mirrors, I turn around.
I sit up straighter in my seat as I navigate to my destination. It seems to take forever when in reality, it’s a handful of minutes. His front lawn and driveway are still packed with his family’s vehicles. There is an open spot, the one that I vacated not even twenty minutes ago. I pull into the drive, put the car in Park, and almost forget to turn off the engine. I leave everything but the letter in the car as I stumble out and run to the front door, shoving it into my back pocket.
Shaking my hands out at my sides, I knock on the door. I fight the urge to just barge in, but I don’t know if I have the privilege anymore. I lock my fingers together in front of me as I wait for someone to answer the door.
“I’ll get rid of whoever it is.” I hear a male voice inside just before the door is pulled open. Sterling stands before me, his mouth agape.
“I love him.”
Sterling nods, the move seeming to pull him out of his stupor. “We know you do.”
“Can I see him?”
“Hey, Arch, I’m going to need you for this,” Sterling calls into the house. He winks at me.