Chapter 1: It all began with a letter

"Ugh, back to this God-forsaken school," Trudy said as she stepped out of the car.

"For someone who is very smart, you sure do hate school a lot," Lia, her best friend, followed behind her. 

Unlike Trudy, Lia was excited about the new semester as they walked through the school hallway. However, her enthusiasm quickly faded when her gaze fell on Asher, who was kissing Harper in front of his locker. It was supposed to be her, or at least it used to be.

"Hey, are you okay?" Trudy interrupted her thoughts.

"Yeah," Lia replied, forcing a smile that Trudy could see right through.

"You will be alright. Look, nobody cares anymore..." Trudy waved her hands dismissively. "...it's a new term; we're forgetting about the past and moving forward." She put her arm around Lia’s shoulders.

Lia only nodded and headed to her next class. Could she really forget what had happened? After all, it had taken place right in this classroom.

Six Months Earlier 

Classes had just ended, and Lia hurried to Asher's class, carrying their anniversary cake, accompanied by a group of people who would sing an acapella, along with a videographer to capture the moment. It was supposed to be a priceless memory, and her followers had already started commenting online, "We are sure gonna win homecoming next year," she thought excitedly.

As they reached the classroom entrance, she said, "Get ready." But in an instant, her entire world came crashing down. The cake slipped from her hands and fell to the floor as she witnessed her boyfriend kissing her best friend.

"Harper!" Lia yelled as she marched toward them. They broke their kiss, startled.

"Oh, come on, Lia. Just tell me you didn't see this coming," Harper said, pulling closer to Asher's chest.

"When did you? Why would you do this me?" Lia stammered. She wasn’t expecting her boyfriend, whom she had been with for three years, to cheat on her with her best friend, whom she had known all her life. She was at a loss for words. "....babe?" The word came out more like a question; it felt as if the walls were closing in on her as her gaze met with his.

"I was going to tell you, but damn! You were all over me, and I didn’t want to break your heart. But, well, now you know," he said, wrapping his arms around Harper's waist. The words pierced her heart.

"This has been going on for a while now; you would have realized it if you weren't so delusional," Harper said, walking away while holding Asher's hand.

Tears filled Lia's eyes. She didn’t know how to process what she felt, hurt? hate? regret? embarrassment? betrayal? maybe even fear. But above all, she felt heartbroken. She placed a hand on her chest, struggling to breathe. In a daze, she looked up.

"Cut the goddamn video!" she shouted, pushing past the videographer as she ran out, covering her face with her hands.

Present Day 

Trudy and Lia were having lunch together in the cafeteria when Trudy spotted Asher walking toward them.

"Don’t panic, but Asher is coming over," Trudy whispered.

"What? Why!?" Lia exclaimed, already in a state of panic.

"Chill out. If he does anything funny, I'll break his nose," Trudy said, trying to calm her friend down.

"Hey, ladies," Asher said as he reached them.

"What do you want?" Trudy asked, glaring at him.

"Relax. I just came to return your bracelet," Asher replied, extending a purple bracelet toward Lia.

"It's yours; I don’t need it," Lia said nervously, forcing herself to look him in the eyes. She had made that bracelet for him because he loved the color purple.

"Yeah, I don’t like it anymore, and Harper says it's not really my color," Asher stated.

"So you just do everything Harper says? Like a mindless zombie?" Trudy mocked.

"And do you have a problem with that?" Harper chimed in from behind, stealing a piece of Lia's fries.

"Just throw it away or give it away. I don’t care. Can both of you just leave?" Lia snapped.

"Fine, let’s go, sweetie," Harper said as she pecked Asher on the cheek and took his arm. "Lighten up a little, Lia. It's not the end of the world," she chuckled as they left, taking her minion with her.

"Are you okay?" Trudy asked, concern etched on her face.

"Yeah, I’m fine," Lia replied, forcing a smile. She stole a glance at Asher; he was smiling with Harper. A surge of frustration washed over her, and she wished she could smash their smiling faces together. But deep down, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had failed as a girlfriend. Did Harper make him happier than she ever did?

"Write a letter," Trudy suggested between bites of her meal. She noticed that Lia kept spacing out or stealing glances at Asher.

"What?" Lia asked, a confused expression on her face.

"Yes, you’re a good writer, and you always express your emotions well in writing. You should write down how you feel," Trudy encouraged.

"I'm not going to write a letter to my ex," Lia blurted out.

"Not for him, Goodness! Eww. For yourself," Trudy emphasized.

"You think so?" Lia's expression brightened.

"Yes, it would make you feel a lot better," Trudy replied with a warm smile. Lia nodded genuinely.

As the last class of the day began, Lia struggled to focus. She tore a piece of paper from her notepad, took out her pen, and began tapping her foot against the floor in contemplation. Finally, she started to write.

Dear Asher,  

You broke my heart. I hate you, and I pray you die of a heart attack. 

"Ughh," she ripped the paper in frustration and grabbed another to begin again.

Dear Asher,

This letter isn't easy to write, but it comes from a place of clarity, strength, and acceptance, things I didn’t always have, but have slowly come to find.

We've been through so much together: the laughter, the late-night conversations, the quiet moments, the fights, the apologies. But every time I look back, I ask myself—was that all a lie? For a long time, I held onto the hope that somehow you would find your way back, that you would tell me it was a mistake and you never meant to leave. But I am tired of waiting.

There were days I couldn’t imagine a life without you in it. However, over time, I realized it hurt more to hold on than to let go.

So this is my goodbye. Not out of anger, not out of resentment, but from a quiet, aching place that understands this was never a love story. I’m not waiting anymore. I’m not looking back. I’m choosing to move forward with open hands and a heart that’s tired but still willing to believe in something new.

I want you to know that I don’t regret a single moment, but this is where things finally end. I wish you peace. I wish you healing. I hope someday you find the kind of love that holds you the way you need to be held. As for me, I’m learning to hold myself now, and that’s a beginning I’m ready for.

– Lia

She ended the letter with her signature and smiled to herself.

"Ophelia Martins?..." The teacher called her full name, causing Lia to jerk up and misplace the paper.

"Do you mind telling us why you are smiling, or would you rather pay attention?" Mrs. Laura stepped forward.

"The latter sounds good," Lia replied, offering a short smile. As Mrs. Laura resumed the lesson, Lia felt a familiar flutter of anticipation in her stomach as she quickly scanned the room for the letter but couldn't find it. No one around her appeared suspicious, but anxiety stirred within her. "Shit!" she muttered under her breath.

The following day Lia arrived at school early but when she opened her locker she discovered a note waiting for her. It read, "You deserve more than a goodbye. Meet me at the bleachers after school tomorrow." Her mind raced as she turned to scan the hallway, desperate to find the sender, but the hallway was empty and the note bore no signature. The thought hit her "Did Asher get a hold of the letter?" Panic surged within her.