Dearest Laila,

I know you probably don't want to hear from me. Just got your first letter. My heart broke. You write so beautifully. You always did.

You probably didn't expect a real apology from me, but here it is.

I, Ian Hawkson, am sorry.

I did you wrong. I loved you, Laila. You will think I didn't, but I did. So why did I do what I did? Because Zoe had a way around her that I couldn't say no. She always wanted to ruin you. Because I liked you and I liked her too. Because Zoe told me you were stuck up and could never love me like she could.

Because I wanted to hurt you because I was hurting. Isn't that a stupid line? I was depressed because my parents were never around and because I was the worst one on the football team and because I always felt I wasn't good enough and I wanted someone else to feel that too.

I'm sorry. It's fucked up, I know.

Forgive me?
-Ian