As my aunt and I drove into the quiet neighborhood of Evergreen Valley, I couldn’t help but focus on the greenery. It was a sharp contrast from the bustling streets of Detroit, Michigan. My aunt and her sister, my mom, used to live here before they moved to Michigan.

My aunt, Preston, glanced at the rearview mirror with her hazel eyes and noticed my furrowed brows, “You alright, Cass?”

My atte...

When you were seventeen, you fell in love.

I can tell by the language of your letters, those little notes you passed each other with hurried hands in the hallways.  Valentines with red roses imprinted on the front, signed off with sweeping Xs and Os.  Lengthy, cursive confessions of flowery feelings I’ve never really understood, but venerated nonetheless.  I used to think, after all, that I would...

I pull another cobweb covered box down from the shelf in the attic. Holding back a cough as the dust floats towards me and up my nose. I know it had to be in here somewhere.

I rifle through old drawings of mine from when to was a kid and elementary school report cards but still not finding what I’m looking for.

I reach the bottom of the box and find a bundle of letters, tied together with twin...

D⃨e⃨a⃨r⃨ L⃨o⃨g⃨a⃨n⃨. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5⃨-1⃨9⃨-2⃨0⃨0⃨2⃨

I⃨ c⃨a⃨n⃨ n⃨o⃨t⃨ t⃨h⃨i⃨n⃨k⃨ l⃨a⃨t⃨e⃨l⃨y⃨.⃨ T⃨h⃨e⃨ o⃨n⃨l⃨y⃨ t⃨h⃨i⃨n⃨g⃨ t⃨h⃨a⃨t⃨ i⃨s⃨ g⃨o⃨i⃨n⃨g⃨ t⃨h⃨r⃨o⃨u⃨g⃨h⃨ m⃨y⃨ h⃨e⃨a⃨d⃨ a⃨l⃨l⃨ d⃨a⃨y⃨ i⃨s⃨ y⃨o⃨u⃨.⃨ I⃨ m⃨i⃨s⃨s⃨ y⃨o⃨u⃨.⃨

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶,. .. . . . . . . . . . . . 𝟱--𝟮𝟱--𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟮

𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁. 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 �...

I always thought love was something amazing. Something that humans just always longed for and needed. I thought that if it was true love then people would do anything: even die.

But I didn't realize how far people would go.

How far they could go.

I have never met my parents. They died when I was just a baby. So I was raised by my dad's sister and it was fun, she was funny and loving and caring...

Evangelina never believed in everlasting love.

She knew little of her father, a man her mother refused to talk about. And while she watched her friends parents live out their happily ever afters, she went home every night to a new man her mother thought might be the one.

None ever were.

So when Evangelina discovered a letter, discreetly tucked behind her fathers lone portrait, she didn’t hesit...

Her heart is almost full but

She feels only somewhat seen

Her humor is met with silence

His slights disguised as playful, are really mean

Common interests they enjoy but

His last apology was never

She’s always in the passenger seat

Tiptoeing around his temper

Argumentative by necessity

Her debate skills should win a prize

But she’s lonely during the day

Yearning to be looked at in th...

Hey babe,

Can you believe it's been four months already? Time really does fly, especially when you're having a blast. From endless talks to both laughter and tears, we've been through so much, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Remember how we started off as just friends? Yeah, that didn't last long. We're just too darn romantic for that, aren't we? Sure, we had our silly fights, but looking back, t...

Dear Amy,

I want you to know that I don’t have a crush on you. The flowers were to make you feel better since your sick. Sorry I’m not real good at writing. I had people say things and so I thought I should explain.

Nick

Dear Nick,

I loved the flowers. There is no need to explain anything. Let people talk. I know you’re just a kind person who cares about everyone. Thanks again,

Sincerely,

Amy...

Her name is Georgia and I love her. She’s in grade 10 and I’m in grade 12, but it doesn’t matter to me because I love her. My buddy says he likes older girls, but it wouldn’t matter to me if Georgia was in college or in grade 9. I love her. As a kid I never really understood love. Mom would tell dad she loved him and dad would say the same to her. But I never knew what they meant.

Now I know lov...