I love you, Ella May," I whisper, kissing her cheek. "And one day I want to be doing this exact same thing at our wedding.

The guy behind the counter scratches his neck. “Are you being serious?” Her face is stoic. “Absolutely. I never kid about teddy bears.

I just let the pain take over, allowing it to numb the pain of being left behind.

But we all make mistakes. It’s how we fix them that makes us who we are.

That’s you. Callie, you’re the only person that’s ever made me feel happy about anything. That night you saved me, you changed something in me—you made me want to live.

And I don't want you to be anywhere but here

I love you, Ella May," I whisper, kissing her cheek. "And one day I want to be doing this exact same thing at our wedding.