I feel like I had a ton to say before, but now that it’s come down to it, my thoughts are all jumbled. We haven’t exactly been completely open with each other, but all the same, you all stuck with me until the end. I really appreciate that. And I really am sorry for making your lives difficult and making light of your situation. Every single one of you has something to protect, and I really do hope that this world will be all right. It sounds like things are far from over for you, so good luck. With everything.

I went to one last party with the guys last night for old time’s sake. I decided to leave them the money I earned at the book store. They can at least use it to fix that crack in the basement wall. They know I’m going away, but I never did end up telling them the whole story. Guess they’ll be sad when I stop answering emails.

You know, even with all of the shit that’s happened, I’m really glad I ended up here. Obviously, bad things would have happened otherwise, but all that aside, I’m still glad. I learned a lot about myself and Juliet, and I got to meet you all and the bros. All of this stuff made me see things in a new way, and I hope that I can somehow use that to make Verona better.

Anyway, I’m really bad at this whole goodbye thing. So… Later!

The weather isn’t all that’s changed. Neither of us would say it, but I could tell we were both thinking it – the first time we walked down that path, we were completely different people than we are now. We stopped to rest on a bench. It was the same bench where, months ago, I had vowed to be there for Juliet no matter what.

Juliet still wants me to go back with her. Not to the future together that we both once longed for, but to a new future shaped by our hands. She believes that our relationship will never be the same, that we have simply been through too much. The words stung, but I know I deserved them. The irony of this whole thing doesn’t escape me.

I didn’t want to go back because I feared my own weakness. But I failed to see Juliet’s strength. She is important to me, and she wants me to remain by her side. I know it’s late, but I’ve decided to fulfill my vow and be there for her – for real this time. Because I believe in her. If she wants to change our fate, then I have to be there to help her, even if only as a friend.

I don’t know if you guys can really do what you say you can, but you seem like good people, and Juliet trusts you. I’m hardly in a place to say this after all the shit I put you through, but I want to take you guys up on your offer. Just tell me what I have to do.

So we started talking. All of her friends had gone home too. Here we were, the only two people in Baltimore who couldn’t do that – because our home existed in some book. We were living on the same campus, and yet we might as well have been in different worlds.

We’ve been meeting every day since then. She likes to draw and is getting really good at it. Her favorite color is green, but she’s afraid to wear it because she doesn’t think it goes with her hair. She watches the stars every night and wonders if they tell each other stories. I didn’t know these things about her. I really didn’t know anything about her.

It’s kind of dumb when you think about it. In that story, we would have died before we could even get to know each other as people. Hell, even here I was so determined to protect her, I didn’t realize I was doing the same damn thing. I broke her heart thinking it was my place to decide her future. And the dumbest thing of all is how long it took me to realize that.

I decided to tell her the truth. About everything.

I guess it was a distraction though. Pretty much all of the guys went home for the weekend to spend time with their folks, so it’s been more quiet around here than I’m used to. Steve’s parents came to pick him up on Wednesday, and they seemed like nice people. Steve was really close to his dad – they kept talking about plans to go skiing. I never even dreamed of having a relationship like that with my old man.

I’m probably not going to the party though. Juliet said she wanted to talk about something, and I promised I’d meet her.

Oh, and you guys kind of lost me with your comments again. Any chance we can try that again?

I probably sound like a jerk asking this, but when will you be able to send Jules home? It’s just not easy. On her, I mean. Staying here.

Thing is, I got a job. Steve put in a good word for me at the book store where he works, and they decided to give me a chance. Not the funnest thing in the world, and I’ve been working pretty late, but it’s cash, and I’ll be needing more of that.

So I guess I can say things are going pretty well. Vanessa and I’ve been talking, and we decided I should move in to her apartment soon-ish. I’ll really miss my bros here, but I don’t want to keep bugging them. They’ve already done way more than enough for me. Besides, it’ll be nice to get away from stuff that reminds me of Verona and my old life.

Looks like more customers – gotta go.

I don’t know who you are or why you think you can stick your neck in this, but don’t you dare go near her. And don’t give me that crap – you don’t know the first thing about love.

Soon as I was well enough, I started seeing Vanessa again. We met three times this week, and she’s been showing me around the city. We’ve been having a lot of fun, but you guys are right about me needing to pull my own weight. I’m going to need more money for her sake and mine, so I’ve been looking into getting a job. If being free of my family means giving up their money, I think that’s a totally fair trade. At least here I control my own fortune.

By the way, you guys keep mentioning that organization or whatever it is. Any chance you can tell me more about it? I mean I don’t even know how I’d go about contacting those guys.

As for me, I can’t go back. I’ve changed too much, and that world isn’t for me anymore. I want to stay with Vanessa. No one else has to get hurt by my stupidity.

I really am sorry.