Out of My Mind (Book 2)

Chapter Sixteen

Colton's POV

I sat in the room Elliana let me stay in and stared at her letter.

Her very first letter she sent me to be exact.

I pulled the slightly crinkled paper out of the now, dingy, white envelope and opened it up.

Dear Colton,

At this moment, it's been two weeks since I last saw you.

That sounds weird to me.

I don't see you everyday anymore.

Cristol is small and there's not much to do unless you count a small cinema, a bowling alley, and a lake in your backyard.

The view is nice but I wouldn't dare try to go swimming in there.

I can't even swim properly in a regular pool.

It's a big change from Los Angeles.

It's not home.

I mean, my house wasn't ever a home. It was a place for shelter and food.

But you? Now, you and your family made your house my home.

I hope Florida is treating you well.

I went there once on a charity trip. It's nice.

I know I'm avoiding the real subject I'm supposed to be on.

I know nobody, Colton.

The only person I ever really knew and let myself get close to was you.

I know you have left to Florida but you never said goodbye so I'll hold onto hope that you'll come back.

After all, you said you'd try to find me the next time you're in Los Angeles.

Despite not saying goodbye, there's nothing you have done for me to be really angry with you.

I'll be honest and tell you that I'm hurt with it all.

I woke up alone again.

I woke up wondering where you went until I found your jersey and your letter in your closet. I had a feeling of where you went but I was denying it.

You left to Florida for you and I can respect that. You need to get a start on your football career and there's obviously no better way to do that except by going to one of the best colleges supporting football.

I drove to the airport in your truck that morning you left. I don't know what I was doing to myself when I made the choice to take your truck. I don't know whether I was choosing to torture myself or give myself some kind of uplifting memory of you.

I think the two choices balance each other out.

I have nothing to be angry with you about.

You did this for you and you have helped me with more than I can ask for. I was in a shithole until you showed up.

The only thing I can really tell you is thank you.

Thank you for pulling me out of that shithole because I don't know how I could have gotten myself out.

For now, I'll say thank you.

Forever, I'll be thankful that you were brought into my life.

Forever, I'll say I love you, Colton, and I'll mean it all the time.