Dear Rosie - Page 214
He came for me.
Fear and hope collide inside my chest.
I brace my hands on the desk and push myself up to stand.
My legs tremble with each step.
He wrote me a letter.
I pick it up.
The fear that he’s on the other side of the door with an officer and an arrest warrant is outweighed by the hope that he isn’t.
I open the letter.
Dear Rosie,
It took me longer than it should have, but I got your letters.
I wish I’d gotten them sooner.
I wish I’d found you sooner.
And more than anything, I wish it was me who killed him.
I would have done it for you.
Over and over, I’d have done that for you.
You deserve so much more than you’ve been given. And you did what you had to do.
I’m so proud of you.
You’re not broken or bad or any of the other things you might think.
You’re the someone special I’ve always wanted.
You’re my person.
And your secrets are mine to keep and protect.
Just like you, my Pretty Rosie. Because I’m going to keep and protect you too.
And my feelings have never been pretend.
My love for you is real.
Now open the door.
Letting hope win, I open the door.
ONE HUNDRED FORTY-ONE
NATE
The door swings in, and I step forward.
My body slams into Rosie’s.