Ava's Letter
To everyone who has been part of my life,
I never thought I would get to write a letter like this. I never thought I'd survive the summers that broke me, the people who tried to control me, or the fear that never really left my chest.
But here we are. I am engaged to Ethan, my best friend and the one who stayed by my side when I couldn't even stay by myself. And I am still Kira's best friend, still Judith's sister in everything but blood, and somehow, after all the chaos, I feel… home.
I want to remember everything we went through. Not because it was easy, but because it made me who I am. Strong. Loved. Brave. And above all, ready for the life that is finally mine.
Forever grateful,
Ava
Kira's Letter
To Ava, Jack, Judith, and everyone I care about,
I never imagined I would survive all of it and still feel whole. The fear, the secrets, the shadows of the past… they could have taken everything from me. But I wasn't alone. I wasn't ever alone.
Jack taught me what patience and loyalty feel like, Judith reminded me that love comes in many forms, and Ava… you taught me that friendship can hold more power than anything else.
I may still worry, I may still overthink, but I have learned to let the people I love be there. And that includes laughing at stupid things, making mistakes, and kissing the people who matter most.
Thank you for being my people. Always.
Kira
Judith's Letter
To my daughters, to my friends, to the world I hope they inherit,
I am alive. I am here. And I am pregnant, carrying hope where once there was only fear. I will tell them stories, not just of darkness, but of courage, of friendship, of love that refuses to let you go.
I am sorry for the secrets, the lies, and the pain I caused. But I hope they know it was never forever. The past cannot hurt them now, not with all of you.
The world feels wide and terrifying, but also full of laughter and warmth. That's what I want to teach them. And I'm so glad I get to teach it alongside all of you.
With love,
Judith
Jack's Letter
To Kira, to Ava, to the rest of my crazy chosen family,
I wasn't perfect. I wasn't honest at first. But I learned. I learned that some things—friendship, love, loyalty—are worth more than pride or fear.
Kira, you are my calm, my anchor, my heart that refuses to let go. I don't deserve you sometimes, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of you.
Ava, thank you for trusting Ethan, for being the brave person you are. And Judith… I will be here for you and your child, always.
The past tried to steal everything, but the present reminds me that we're still here. Strong. Together. Alive.
Forever yours,
Jack
Ethan's Letter
To Ava, to Kira, to Judith, and to everyone who survived with me,
I never thought life could give me so much—love, friendship, family, laughter—after all the shadows we walked through.
Ava, you've always been braver than anyone I've ever met. I fell for you when you were scared, when you were broken, and when you were just yourself. And now, I get to spend the rest of my life by your side. I promise to never let the world take that from us.
Kira, Judith, Jack… thank you for letting me be part of this. Thank you for trusting me, for keeping me close, and for reminding me that even in chaos, there's hope, there's courage, and there's love.
We survived together. And now, we get to live together. And that's more than enough.
Always,
Ethan
The letters were pinned to the fridge that night, a reminder of everything that happened, everything they survived, and everything they were going to build together.
Outside, the sun set slowly over the lake. The breeze was soft. The world was quiet. And for the first time in years, it felt like it could finally be theirs.