Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold, sick and healthy, asleep and awake – it's everything except what it is – William Shakespeare

Dear Dylan,

Today, during English class, we were reading a romantic novel when the teacher jokingly asked:

"so guys, any love experiences you'd like to share with us?"

Everyone started talking heartily, sharing some stories of their past dates. I looked at you with my heart clenching; you had your head down as if in pain, your leg bouncing up and down under your desk. When everyone was done and silence fell upon us, you lifted your head slowly and muttered quoting Shakespeare: "love is everything except what it is."

The teacher looked at you curiously and leaned backwards on her desk "it's been a while since we heard your voice Dylan, so tell me, what's love for you and not for Shakespeare?"

You threw me a quick glance and answered "heartbreak and pain."

Your words were as if you had just thrown a bucket of boiling water on me. I was enraged and without thinking, I said out loud "it's also happiness, support, and trust."

Miss Smith looked back and forth between us as you evaded my stare. Trying to break the tension, she asked me with a sweet smile "so Cheryl, you have a positive outlook. Does that mean you had a good experience with love?"

I felt my heart break: "No, despite everything good we went through together, it ended badly".

The teacher's smile fell of her face; this was clearly not going the way she anticipated. Looking at you sadly she asked "Someone broke your heart too?"

This time, you turned your head towards me and looked into my eyes: "No, I was the one to break the girl's heart."

Fearing that my voice would betray me, I whispered: "so the heartbreak and pain you were talking about, they are what you brought upon the girl?"

With a sad smile, you answered right before the bell rang: "it's what I brought upon both of us."

Oh Dylan, if only you knew how many times I have repeated this conversation in my head.

And just so you know,

Love for me, is you,

Sincerely yours,

Cheryl  

I honestly loved this chapter, hope you do too. xx