Sophia's POV

I take a seat at the empty wooden bench that's situated to the right of the boardwalk.

I unzip my backpack to find my journal inside. I was wondering where I'd left it. I whip it out and then drop my backpack to the floor.

Opening my journal, I flick through the pages until I get to a passage that doesn't look familiar.

Wait a minute, that's not my handwriting.

August 20

My Dearest Sophia,

You wrote something beautiful about me, I only thought it'd be fair to return the gesture. Then again, a beautiful person deserves beautiful words.

When I was younger, I always felt disconnected from the rest of the world. Disconnected in the sense that I wasn't like the rest of the kids my age. I didn't share their luxuries, experiences, or traditions. And, I let that define my potential. I let that define my identity. Trust me, I wanted to be proud of myself, and I tried. Man, did I try. But I couldn't be. It took me years and years to work up the confidence that I now have. To be honest with you, it's still something that I struggle with. I was always going to be the guy who had to work for the things that he wanted in life. I was always going to be the 18-year old fighter at the warehouse, the summer lifeguard, the winter mechanic, the fucked-up loser who drowned his sorrows away with alcohol, the older brother with no role models. It wasn't an easy concept to grasp.

It still isn't.

You're too good for me, Fee. I know you don't see it, or if you do, won't admit it, but you are. The thing is, though, when I got to know you, I finally felt hopeful, like I could be better because that's what you deserved. If I was lucky enough to have you in my life, then that's what I had to do. I had to be great enough for you.

Over time, I came to realize that the way you looked at me was enough. It was enough for me to feel like I was invincible. It was your love and belief in me that made me feel undefeated. And while I felt that, I convinced myself otherwise. I convinced myself otherwise because I wanted to sabotage the good in my life. I've never had something special like this happen to me — and, that's what you are. You're so special to me. Having that wasn't something I was used to. So, I did what I do best. I destroyed it. I destroyed the trust that you put in me and the love that you gave me, and for that, I will forever hate myself. I will forever be sorry.

While I can't fix the hurt and the betrayal that I've caused you, I promise to learn from it. While I can't guarantee that I won't deceive you ever again, I promise to try my hardest to never wreck your faith in me. If you give me the chance.

Please.

Give me the chance, and I won't let you down.

Ever yours,

Noah