Quincy Cavendish was my first real love. She’s the girl that no other measured up to—no matter how hard they tried. The one that got away, but was always in my sights. My sweetheart, I loved her when I could and when I shouldn’t. I was her first kiss. Her first crush. There’s nothing I wanted more than to be her first everything, but still, I walked away. I let her go when I should have held on tight. It’s too late to change the past. It’s impossible to do. We’re different people now, but one thing remains the same—my love for her. I may not have had all her firsts, but I will be all her lasts. I’m loving her for keeps. We’ve circled each other all our lives, but we’ve never had our moment until now.

Phillip Cavendish was the boy I grew up with. My brother’s best friend, he was always out of reach. Until he wasn’t. We were two kids so in love that we failed to see each others’ faults and flaws. We held on when we should have let go. We loved, we fought, and we won. Until all that was left were my tears. I loved him through them. I hoped. But sometimes the fairy tale has no happy end, and we have no choice but to let go. Sometimes to get your happy ending, you have to walk through hell.

Dorian Anson is my friend. She’s the only person who’s ever questioned my smiles. My jokes. The one liners that have our friends shaking their heads at me. I’ve lived my life on those smiles. Thy never failed me, until her. I wasn’t counting on her when I designed my front. I never imagined the possibility of someone like her coming into my life. She was the girl with the beautiful soul, pretty face and whole heart. But hearts aren’t made to stay whole. I watched hers break. I watched her tears fall. I watched as her world tilted on its axis and shattered at her feet. This girl. She sees me, all parts of me—the truths I try to hide, the secrets I bury. What’s mine and what’s not. She sees it all, and I can only hope that the truth isn’t too much. That she won’t walk away. That she won’t leave me…alone. We both have a past. We have ghosts. We have fears. I’m hoping that somehow in the end, we’ll have each other too. I’ve never needed anyone before her, and I know I’ll never want anyone else after her. There is no one like her. My pretty girl. Dorian.