Lina’s Letters
Lina’s Letters
Dear Johnny,
This is the hardest letter I’ve had to write, and that’s saying something.
I’m sorry.
I know you think I ruined everything. And maybe, in some ways, I did. But I also believe we found something real in each other. Something rare and bright and worth remembering, even if we weren’t meant to hold onto it forever.
I hope a day comes when you won’t regret knowing me. I could never regret knowing you.
When I was at my lowest, you reminded me how strong I am, so now, I’m reminding you.
You are not broken, Johnny. You’re human.
You’re hurt. You’ve lost so much, and it’s not fair.
But your pain doesn’t make you cruel. Your anger doesn’t make you undeserving of love.
You are worthy of healing, of forgiveness, of a life that doesn’t hurt so much.
Thank you for being my friend. For protecting me. For seeing the parts of me I was afraid to show anyone else.
I’m not sure if I believe in soul mates, but if I did, I’d like to think we’re each other’s. I meant what I said: you’ll always be my person. Maybe not in the way we once imagined, but in the way that matters. The kind that stays, even from a distance.
All My Love,
Lina
P.S. You’re mine, too.
∞∞∞
Dear Axel,
God, I don’t even know where to begin with you. How do you thank someone for saving you, without even realizing they were doing it?
You’ve been my anchor, my chaos, my comfort, and my storm. When I was drowning, you didn’t try to fix me, you just held me above the surface and reminded me how to breathe again.
You make me laugh. You make me feel wanted. You make me feel... normal, even when nothing in my life has ever been. But you also held me when the nightmares came. You made me happy when I thought I never would be again. You saw the worst parts of me and stayed anyway.
I fell for you in a hundred small moments I didn’t recognize until it was too late. And now, I have to leave you behind, and it’s tearing me apart.
I hate that I can’t say goodbye to you in person. I hate that our story has to pause here. But if staying means putting you or anyone else in danger, then walking away is the only choice I can make. And you know me. I wouldn’t run unless I had to.
This isn’t forever. You once told me I was resilient, and I’m going to prove it to you. I’ll survive this again, and I’ll carry you with me every step of the way.
If our lives were a TV drama, this wouldn’t be the finale. Just a season break.
And Axel?
You’ll always be my favorite episode.
XOXO,
Your Princess
P.S. Please give Nik the letter behind this. I don’t know how much you’ll be able to tell him, but I need him to know how much he meant to me, too. Lean on each other and love each other.
∞∞∞
Dear Nikolai,
If you’re reading this, it means you found the extra note I tucked into Axel’s envelope. I’m sorry for keeping this huge secret, but it wasn’t because I didn’t trust you. I hope you understand.
You’ve been one of the brightest surprises of my life.
You came in unexpected, disarming, with that wicked grin and those soft eyes that always saw more than I meant to show.
You were flirty, but never pushy. You waited.
You listened. You got me in ways I didn’t know I needed. You made a damaged girl feel normal.
I want to believe there’s a version of the world where we had more time.
Where you, me, and Axel went to college together.
Maybe we’d rent a crappy little apartment off campus and spend those four years figuring out life.
Maybe after, you'd run a woodworking business, Axel would be doing something creative with his art, and I’d be.
.. doing something that made me happy, while laughing and crying and loving you both.
In that world, I think I would have fallen so deeply in love with you, I’d never have found the surface again. But if I’m honest… maybe I already did.
Please don’t close off your heart. Especially not to him.
You and Axel have a connection most people never find.
I saw it in the way you looked at each other when you thought no one noticed.
It’s real. Maybe messy, maybe undefined, but so, so real.
Don’t push it away. Don’t bury it. Let it grow into whatever it’s meant to be, whether that’s friendship, love, or something that doesn’t need a name.
You’re better together. You ground him. He lights you up. It’s rare, and beautiful.
If the universe is kind, and our paths cross again, I’ll never let go.
Until then, remember how much I adored the way you said my name.
Love always,
Carolina