To that kid in patched up clothing, who I promised to change the world for,

And to my mother for believing I can.

Dear Reader,

There is a vlogbrother's video in which author and vlogger, John Green relates the experience of writing his new book, Turtles All The Way Down, to a scene in one of his favorite movies, Rushmore. One of the characters in the movie asks, "How long have you been in the country?" to which the soldier responds, saying, "I ain't even here, Sergeant. I am in Cheyenne, Wyoming." John has since used Cheyenne as a metaphor for when he is away from the physical world, lost in the realm of his imagination.

Writing this story—The Beauty In Our Storms—I felt as if I never truly left Cheyenne, whatever time of the day it was. Wherever I went and whatever I did, the voices in my head never quieted down. At the dining table as I munched on my food, I wondered if Eric had eaten. Or when I laughed with my family, I thought about Carla and hoped she was well. I wouldn't lie to you and say I have completed the story entirely in my drafts—there are a few more chapters left to the end. But this is the closest I have come to completing any writing project and that thought alone is making me all jittery with happiness.

However, whatever I am going to be posting on Wattpad will be the unedited version of this story. I am aware that this sounds like an awful, terrible idea, but I really want the first batch of my audience to read this story in its crude form. Editing, while making the story infinitely better, also causes it to lose some of its initial, raw emotion. I want you guys to read everything I felt writing this book, and I want you to feel it too. (I mean this is in the best of ways)

Thank you so much for giving my work a chance. Writing about Eric and Carla felt like nurturing a child, and putting their stories up on Wattpad feels like sending my child off to college. I sincerely hope my child is everything you wished it to be, I hope he behaves well with you, I hope he makes you happy.

Best,
RZ.