Beauty and the Geek

Epilogue

  "Em," Sarah called over, paint brush in hand. "Can you run out and get the mail for me?"
"Sure," I replied.

One year later, my unknown was suddenly put right. I had used Dad's inheritance money to fund a backpacking trip to Europe. Several countries later, I had bumped into fellow American Sarah on a train journey to Italy and joined her in rebuilding an orphanage in the countryside. It was a whole lot more rewarding than anything else I could have been doing back home. College was no longer my pipe dream. Instead, I found myself barely able to stop smiling everyday; I was helping kids who needed it and experiencing a part of the world I didn't know existed.

Rifling through the stack of mail, I noticed a letter from my Mom and Mark. Mark was getting older; he had shed his former life of endless video games and gotten into sports. He was even being nicer to me, writing me a separate letter about how much he missed me. He also included a photo of his new girlfriend, who he couldn't gush about enough. I had warned him to be careful – I had been in love once too, after all.

Next came my Mom's letter; after finally being able to open up about Dad she had moved on, taken less hours at work and found another love in her life. I touched the photo she had sent; she and her boyfriend, Max, smiled happily with their arms around each other like two loved up teenagers.

Inside, I was was glad that everyone seemed to be moving on from it all but I also couldn't help but feel a little empty. I had tried dating a couple of guys here and there on my travels but even the most exotic men in the world couldn't compare to Will – as much as it pained me to admit it.

Ironically, we were still in touch and he liked to inspire me with tales about what was happening back home when he went home for the holidays. Lauren and Zeke had ended up together. At prom, she had hoped her admirer was Brett only to be confronted with a nervous looking, single red rose-wielding Zeke – I guess, sometimes opposites do attract and they had hit it off. They were made for each other in my eyes - both horrible excuses for friends.

I ripped open Will's letter eagerly; contained inside were his usual neatly written words and a new photo for my photo album. Keeping my promise, I had taken it around the world with me and filled it with my own memories. In the photo he had sent, he was at a college party; drinking from one of those beer funnels, surrounded by a crowd of screaming people egging him on. From what I had read, Will was quite the party animal now and had taken my advice to heart – he was no longer a "geek". He was the Will I knew.

"Dear Em,

I hope you're doing well. Me? I can't remember the last time I was sober. Changed days, huh? I drink because it's fun sometimes, but mostly because...there are things I can't erase. Sometimes, living with them is hard and painful and the only thing I can do is escape for just one night.

I've been thinking about that night at prom lately. I've realised you were right and I was wrong - I've never said that to you before. I think I was sorry I got caught more than anything else. But you should know that I'm sorry that I hurt you. I really am. A year at college has done wonders for me, and I realise now I was immature and stupid and I let the best thing in my life go. Ironically, you taught me way more than I taught you – and I was supposed to be your tutor!

I hope you're still filling up that photo album and having a great time – but part of me wants you to be having a terrible time without me, as selfish as it is. There are lots of things I should have said on my porch that day but I didn't have the courage. I just want to let you know one thing – everyday I find myself wishing we could cross paths again and I could make all of this mess right. You're the one for me. I meant what I said...I still don't know what to do without you.

Always yours,
Will"

I held the letter to my chest and smiled – who knew? Maybe, one day we would cross paths again. As my Dad always used to say, when you love someone you always find your way back to them in the end.