Chapter 1

Dear Dal,

It's been a month and a week. I told mom today. She reacted just the way I expected. She kicked me out. I don't have a place to stay in, Dal. I'm in the streets and it's really dark. I'm using the street light to write this letter. I can't see much. I don't have food. She didn't even leave me a couple of bucks for a loaf of bread. What do I do, Dal? If you were still here, I would have came to you. There's no one on the streets. Am I supposed to stay the night here? Where do I hide? Maybe I should come sleep with you. I feel safer around you. You keep me safe.

Dal, I'm hurting. It feels like a lifetime ago we were together. It feels like years ago that I felt your lips on mine. I bet you're asleep in peace right now, aren't you? You're sound asleep while I'm hurting. You're at peace while I'm depressed. It feels like you ripped half my heart and took it with you. While you were here, it felt like fireworks were all around us. Now it's just dark and quiet. Without you, I'm half a heart. It feels like I'm falling but never landing. I'm a complete mess, Dal. Without you I've got no shoulder to lay down on. I've got no one to fall asleep on. With you I felt alive, but now I feel nothing but dead. You've taken all my hope with you. I have no desire to do anything. My future seems blurry. It's not hard to remember the people we used to be. But it is difficult to imagine you with me right now. Even the sunset looks dull without you. Did you expect me to be fine when you left, Dal? You kept one promise at least though. You promised you'd love me till your last breath.

You'll always have a special place within my heart, my love

-Imani