Always is a promise only few of us can keep.

Always is a promise that only a few of us can keep. In my upcoming short story Always, seventeen-yeaold Josh is still trying to cope over the loss of his girlfriend, Peyton. She killed herself a year ago, leaving alone a note for him leaving Josh asking why. But he soon realizes, even when she's gone, that maybe their romance wasn't so fairy-tale perfect after all. Soon turning off the help from friends even family, Josh's spiraling depression and desperation for love grows into an obsession for self-perception within himself. When his feelings for the new girl in town grows into an inexplicable connection of attraction, Josh isn't quite sure if he could open himself up to a relationship again. However, the two realize that they may have more in common than they might think... and despite of their differences, the two must learn the hardest part of all is letting go.

EXCERPT:

If you’re reading this this I must be dead. I’ve started and stopped this letter over and over again always writing it in my head.

Josh, I love you. I will always love you and I’m sorry I just couldn’t do it anymore. The thought of waking up one more day and pretending that everything was alright was unbearable. Truth is things haven’t been okay in a long time.

All I ever wanted was to be free. To be free from life, to be free from the world, to be free from all my burdens.

And I am Josh, I’m free now.

– Peyton

He knelt beside the gravestone, his feet sinking into the soft patches of snow.

The emptiness of Peyton’s voice replays in his mind, unable to stop; like a broken record, he could still hear her whispering ever so softly, desperate. And I am Josh, I’m free now.

Could this have been his fault? Could he have stopped it? That, he wasn’t so sure. But he was sure that Peyton was gone, and no matter how many times he whispered “sorry”, or how many tears he cried, she would never come back. This time she was truly gone forever.

            And he was left alone; with nothing more than the fading voice of the girl he once loved, and a single note to give comfort.

There are just some days you can’t forget.

The day you finally had your training wheels taken off your bike.

The day you finally had your first kiss with the girl you’ve been dreaming of.

            And there was June 15^th; a day that he was afraid would never leave.

*          *         *

Isabel Davis, author of top picks project Anywhere but Here has been a big encouragement and help to me starting it. Thank you.

Listen to the song that inspired it all.

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