Dear Beautiful,

Prologue

"Somewhere inside of me there will always be the person I am tonight" -F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Bye Ashley! And thanks again for having me over Mrs. Thomas." I shut the door behind me as the brisk winter air wrapped its dead fingers around me. It was nearing dark and i figured my mom would want me home soon since my brother was coming home for the Holidays. I got in my little ford and pulled out of the driveway to start heading home. I tuned the radio to Alt Nation and turned onto the highway. You know when you have those moments when you know that something isn't right? When you get this tugging feeling in your gut that warns you to turn back when you still have the ability? This was one of those times. I pulled into the neighborhood that lays just before mine as my gut and brain were telling me to turn around. I tried preparing myself for the worst as the faint sound of sirens up ahead filled the car and the silence of the night. The red, white, and blue flashing lights danced around the desolate houses like they were their stage. I turned onto my street, adrenaline coursing through my veins. As I inched closer to my house, my heart stopped. The flashing lights, blaring wails of the sirens... They were all coming from my house. I parked on the street in front of my house and ran out of the car to see what was going on. Not even halfway to the front door, I was pushed aside as the door swung open and a officer had someone with him in cuffs. I look into the eyes of the person that was being arrested only to see the cold, beautiful, dead eyes of my brother, Zeke.

I was 16 when my brother was arrested. Zeke was charged with the possession and selling of illegal drugs and weapons. This wasn't the first time he was arrested and I wish I could tell you he was found innocent, but he never was. The truth about him was he was a guy who had everything everyone wanted. He had everything going for him. As my mom always says, "Zeke just got caught up in the wrong crow. A crowd that is manipulative and wants to see the world burn." I haven't seen Zeke in a year. I haven't gotten a call, letter, or anything from him. It's almost as if he was never around in the first place.

Zeke is supposed be released next month and I honestly don't know how my family is going to handle it.

Something in my life changed the day my brother was arrested. A letter, written in beautiful script, was delivered in the mail. It was addressed to me and there was no return address. After I read it, I vowed that I would find the writer of this letter... he made me feel like I wasn't alone for the first time in years.