Timidly

AFTERWARD

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DEAR MANNY,

It's been an entire month since you hopped on that plane back to NYC, and I chose not to. It's been an entire month since I hugged you, told you how much I appreciate you in person. What you did, it was really special. It brought out a side of you that I never really see; I know it was there, but never had I actually witnessed it.

You could have told me to get on that plane with you and I would have. You're my best friend, and despite Costello being the boy I love, I would have left him if you had asked me to. That's the thing about our friendship. We'll do anything for each other, even if it breaks our hearts in the process. I understand how hard it was to watch me walk away with them. I know it hurt, no matter what you try to tell me, when you realised I really wasn't coming with you.

But this isn't the end of us; the end of Manny Lennox and Donna Walsh, friends since childhood, friends for eternity.

I believe that you will mend things with Minnie and your parents. I hope that one day I'll even be able to do so with my own family. But for right now, I'm here in London.

I'm taking proper photography classes, while working part-time at Hopeless Beans with Nina. I've sent in an application consisting of a portfolio of my photographs to see if I can truly have a career doing what my dad did. Costello and I are going strong, him working on his second novel with me as his main character (which I find cute), Shane and Karen are still fighting their feelings, but I can tell that something is going to happen soon. Viktoria hasn't changed one bit. She still drinks like a sailor and parties like her life depends on it.

And you know what, Manny? Sebastian talks about you, as well as asks how you're doing. I'm going to give him your email and cell phone number, so by the time this letter gets to you, it will already be too late for you to say no.

I love and miss you so much, more than words can ever describe. Please check up on my mom; despite her saying she never wants to speak to me again, I want to make sure she's safe. And Keys. That horrible bastard. If he hurts her, you tell me and I'll be over there before you can explain to me the jail sentence for homicide.

I'm not cutting anymore, and my depressions being helped. Remember Aaleigha Tipton? That red-head councillor that we met at the hospital? Yeah, I talk to her once a week.

Anyways, because I have decided to write you a letter instead of calling you like a normal millennial teenager, you won't read these words until they get to you in a few days. Don't hate me for being old-fashioned.

Donna x
(P.S Don't fuck up whatever could happen between you and Sebastian; your life may change forever if you let it)

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