Page 152 of Aria

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to fit everything I want to say into one letter, but I’ll try. You’ve probably noticed by now that I’m gone. I know if I tried to tell you this in person, you would convince me to stay, and I would give in. I’m weak when it comes to you. I suppose we are all weak when it comes to love.

And please know, I do love you. I love you so much I’m sitting here sobbing as I write this, second-guessing myself with every stroke of my pen. But I need to do this. I can’t be with you, Noah. I can’t be with anyone right now. I’m broken, and I don’t want to hurt you.

I know that sounds contradictory because I’m hurting you with this letter. But that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the dark, ugly kind of hurt. I can’t possibly make you happy if I can’t even make myself happy. I know you probably can’t see it yet because you’re consumed with anger and emotion. But I promise… one day you’ll understand. One day you’ll see why I needed to do this. And only then, when you’re exquisitely happy and your life is full of beautiful things, you will thank me.

You said we were a duet, and I wish I could be your second half. I wish I could be a part of your perfect duet.

But I’m an aria. I am meant to fly alone.

I wish so many wonderful things for you. I hope you find love again and continue to make music. I hope all your dreams come true. I hope one day, when the anger has subsided and you are lying in bed with the woman you love, you will read this letter again. I hope you’ll read it in a new light and see how everything is exactly as it should be.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t. Thank you for all the nights you stayed up with me as I bared my soul to you. Thank you for the movie dates, the homemade pancakes, the laughs over whiskey, and everything in between. Thank you for Sam.

I love you, Noah. No matter what happens, you will always be the only song in my heart.

You will be my aria.

Love, Chelsie

I stared at the green piece of paper for a long time before tucking it back into the drawer of my nightstand and running a hand over my face. Visions of Chelsie flickered through my mind as I sat there in the darkness for what felt like a lifetime.

Pulling at the covers and climbing into bed, I scooted over to the opposite side where Beth was sleeping and tugged her close, nuzzling my face against her hair. She instinctively inched herself against me and squeezed my hand as she fell back into a quiet sleep.

The truth was, Iwashappy—exquisitely happy.

I loved Beth. I loved my life.

Maybe Chelsie had been right all along.

When I closed my eyes, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted off to a familiar place in my dreams.

It was there that I found her.

She was sitting at my kitchen table, shoveling pancakes into her mouth and laughing with Sam.

“Easy there, tiger,” I said with a wink.

Chelsie stood from her chair and strolled over to me, her silk robe trailing languidly behind her. “I can’t help it. You know I love your pancakes.”

“And you know I love you.”

I kissed her mouth, almost tasting the sticky, sweet syrup on her lips.

“Noah, our song is playing. Will you dance with me?”

Pausing for a moment, I tried to hear the music. “I don’t hear anything,” I murmured.

She grinned. “I do.”

And so we danced in my kitchen to a silent song, holding each other close and moving our bodies together in perfect rhythm.

Chelsie laughed, her blonde hair cascading all around her as I spun her in a graceful circle. She looked up at me then, her emerald eyes gleaming with unparalleled joy.

I always said I could get lost in those eyes.

And in my dreams, I did.

To Be Continued…

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