The first week of the semester is done, and I should feel relieved. My course load isn’t crazy. I got all the classes I wanted. But I see Veronica everywhere on campus. When she hid from me in the café, my immediate response was to rush over to her, but then I stopped. She was hiding from me. Avoiding me. Would running over to her and forcing her to talk about everything push her away more? Cindy went to speak to her, and later that day I got a text message from her.

I know that. It’s what she keeps telling me. But how long is too long before this small crack becomes a canyon and we can’t reach each other anymore?

Getting home from my last class, I find Taylor on the couch going over his homework. I wave at him and then head to my room. I finally washed my sheets. I thought I’d fold them, put them away, and dress my bed in new ones, but instead, I slipped the same ones back over my mattress. They don’t smell like her anymore, but I still have the memories. Maybe that’s all I’ll have from now on.

Dropping my bag at the foot of my bed, I see a letter on top of my covers. Snatching it quickly, I read my name scribbled on the front in Veronica’s writing.

“Taylor,” I call out, leaning in my doorway, “Veronica was here?”

“Yeah.” He taps a pencil against his head, looking over at me. “Just for a second. She didn’t come in. She wanted to leave that envelope for you.”

“She didn’t … did she ask anything? Leave any messages or something?”

He shakes his head, giving me an empathetic smile. “Sorry.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Retreating into my room, I shut the door. I sit on my bed and tear open the envelope, a little surprised to find a single sheet. Her last letter—which I saved and have it in my dresser—was pages long. This one is four paragraphs. A tinge of panic surges, not knowing if the lack of words is a good thing or bad.

Jumping up from the bed, I rush out of the apartment. I just read her fears, and how she’s not sure if she’ll ever be rid of them. But one line out of the letter is my focus. ‘If I had my way, I’d say let’s be together forever. I want that.’ She wants that. That’s all I need to know, so I don’t even think about calling or texting her first. Jumping in my truck, I rush over to her house, unsure she’s even going to be there right now. I don’t know her class schedule, so she might be gone.

Parking in front of her house, a new worry hits me—her brothers. Miguel was the one who called me last time, but Tomás is the one that hit me. I’m sure he told his brothers what happened, so I’m not expecting anything but apathy when I see them. Still, I push through the concern and hurry to her front door, knocking.

“Get lost, prick,” Javier answers, opening the door for just a second before he starts to close it again.

Sliding my foot to keep it open, I press my hand against it. “Javier, please. I need to talk to her.”

“Are you crazy?” he hisses, stepping outside, closing the door behind him. “Dude, I wasn’t here, but I heard what happened. You’re a douchebag, but I’m not pissed off enough to attack you right now. Miguel and Tomás? That’s another story. I’m doing you a favor here. Get lost before one of them sees you.”

“I can’t leave. Please, I need to talk to her. She asked me to call her.”

“You’re not getting it.” He steps closer, putting a finger in my chest. “She might’ve asked you to call her, but you’re gonna have to do that somewhere else. Here? At our home? If Tomás sees you, you’re about to get the shit kicked out of you. I’m trying to help you out, Micah.”

“I’m not leaving,” I respond, folding my arms and standing my ground.

“Micah, go!” He pushes me.

I stumble back, but regain my footing, planting myself again. Then the door opens.

“Yo, Javi, who was—” Tomás’ words cut off, as his eyes meet mine. “You got a lot of nerve showing up again, asshole.”

“Micah, I told you. You need to leave,” Javier urges me, pushing me again.

“No, let him stay.” Tomás pushes past his brother, shoving me.

Javier’s between us, still trying to get me to go back to my truck. I cautiously wait for Tomás to make a move, and when he lunges at me, I quickly step out of the way. Javier turns to his brother, trying to hold him back.

“Tomás, I just need to talk to her,” I yell at him.

“You aren’t talking to anyone!”

“Micah, go!” Javier yells.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Javi, get the hell out of my way.”

“Tomás, calm down.”

Pushing against his brother, he lunges at me again, but I move away as we circle their front yard. It’s the evening, so I’m sure their neighbors might be watching through their windows, but I can’t bring myself to care about it enough to stop. I don’t care if he gets ahold of me and we start rolling around in the grass, causing people to call the cops on us, I can’t leave. I won’t.

“Move, Javi!” Tomás yells at his brother. “You weren’t here. You didn’t see how hurt she was.”

His words make me freeze. It’s not a revelation that what I said was out of line and hurt her. I know it did. I said it in a moment of anger and frustration. But hearing him tell it, knowing I caused it, sends dread through me again.

Tomás finally shoves Javier out of the way, grabbing me by the shirt. “You’re never seeing her again, you hear me? I don’t care if she wants you here or not, I’m watching out for her. I’m protecting her from dickheads like you who think you’re too good for her.”

“I don’t think—”

“Shut up!” he growls. “I should slam your face into the ground right now. But I know she still has feelings for you. So leave, Micah. Get the hell out of here and never come back because I swear to God, if you do, I won’t hold back. She’ll get over you. I’m not gonna give you another chance to hurt her.”

“Tomás!” A booming voice makes all three of us turn our heads. Standing in the doorway is their father. Just behind him, Veronica stands wide-eyed and mouth open. “Let him go.”

Tomás looks back at me, narrowing his eyes, seething in frustration.

“Tomás,” his father orders again. This time he let’s go. “Javier, get inside.”

It’s an interesting shift of power I’m watching play out. Their father’s said very little to me, and from being around them, he doesn’t voice his concern or demonstrate any kind of authority to any of his children. At the same time, even though they’re all over eighteen, and Tomás is married, he still seems to run everything.

Javier looks at Tomás for a moment before retreating back into the house. Tomás, though he isn’t holding me anymore, continues to stand toe to toe, his gaze boring into mine. Through the corner of my eye, I see the older man approach, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Go inside, Tomás.”

He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t move for what feels like an eternity, and I never break our gaze. Finally, he takes a step back. He looks at his father, then his eyes find mine again before he turns around and walks back into the house.

My vision follows him, and as he goes inside, he gives Veronica’s arm a comforting squeeze. She keeps her eyes on me.

“Micah.” The strong voice returns, but it’s different. It’s quiet enough for only me to hear but at the same time enough to rattle my bones. “That girl may be a young woman now, free to make her own choices and mistakes, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t watched out for. That she isn’t protected.” There isn’t any anger or frustration in his voice. Only warning. “I was watching from inside. I wouldn’t be out here right now if she didn’t ask me. They are all my kids, but she’s always been who we protect. If she asks you to talk, you talk. If she asks you to stay, you stay. I’ll make sure the boys don’t do anything. But, Micah,” he lifts a finger, “if she asks you to leave, then you leave. I’ll only say it once.”

I want to answer him, but my voice is gone, so I nod. As nervous as he makes me, I’m more terrified of this being the last time I get to talk to her. He nods back, turns around, and walks back into the house. Veronica approaches me cautiously, worry across her face.

“You should’ve called,” she says, flashing a small, nervous grin.

“I couldn’t. I didn’t want to just hear your voice, I needed to see you.”

She walks past me, and I follow along like a lost puppy. Leaning against my truck parked in front of her yard, she asks, “You read the letter?”

“Of course.”

Bobbing her head, she looks around her yard, then off into the distance. The sun’s finally collapsed beneath the horizon, offering a warm yellow and orange glow through the clouds. I’m not sure if she’s watching the sunset thinking it’s the last one we’ll see together or if she’s hoping it’s one in a long line of many to come.

“I don’t …” Her words linger, filling me with panic. “I don’t know what to do, Micah.”

Those words are all I need to move me to action. Throwing my arms around her, I pull her close, and a sliver of hope hits me as she wraps hers around me. “It’s gonna be okay,” I whisper.

“But how? How will it be okay? Micah, I’ve tried. I’ve really, really tried and I keep trying, but these fears never leave.”

“I know, and I’m so sorry, Vero. I should’ve never told you what I did. I’m not too good for you. I’m nothing without you. I need you, Veronica. Please, come back to me, and we can figure out all of the rest.”

“But that’s not fair, Micah.” She shakes her head into my chest. “I can’t ask you to do that. To always be my cheerleader.”

“That’s what couples do, isn’t it? Cheer the other on? Support them?”

“Yeah, for like a new job or something. For someone’s dream. This thing,” she presses her fingers to her head, “never goes away.”

Leaning down to her, I hold her face, my thumbs brushing away her tears. “Do you know what my dream is, Vero?”

“You want to be an artist, like your dad.”

I shake my head. “That’s my goal. I don’t know if I ever told you my dream. My dream was to live a life like my father. Not just a job, but everything. And that dream doesn’t come true unless I have someone to share my life with like he does. You’re my dream. I need you. Otherwise, this isn’t the life I’ve dreamt about having.”

“But—”

“You wrote that I’ve been more vocal about my insecurities, and maybe you’re right. But I haven’t told you everything.” Leaning back, she peers up at me. “I haven’t told you that I hated having you sleep over some days because I knew Taylor was home and I didn’t want you to see him, and think about upgrading.”

Through her tears, she laughs and then makes a gagging sound. “Ew, Micah.”

“I haven’t told you that while I brought flowers for your mom, I did it purely to try and impress her, hoping I’d look better than any other guy that might’ve met your parents before.” Another light chuckle, shaking her head. “And I haven’t told you that I did everything I could to hide how insecure I was when you went on vacation with your family. Why do you think I texted you so much? I didn’t know who was down there. I didn’t know if you’d see some guy on the beach and decide to have some vacation fling.”

“Micah, I would never—”

“I know. I know you wouldn’t, but that doesn’t stop my fears from taking me over sometimes. You’ve countered my insecurities, whether you know it or not, just as much as I’ve countered yours. Being with you, while I may get jealous from time to time, is all I want. You make me forget that other people can betray you and remind me that some people are worth fighting for. You’re worth fighting for. Please, come back to me.”

“And later? It’s not gonna be too much when you have to keep telling me how much you love—”

My lips crash into hers, cutting off her words. Locking her fingers behind my neck, she pulls me closer. Her scent encapsulates me, while her lips and tongue cure every part of the pain I’ve had from being without her. Running my fingers through the curls I’ve missed for far too long, I never want to break apart from her. Even as we separate to catch our breath, and her lips are only inches from mine, it’s still too far.

Reaching up, I wipe away the last tear. “Never. It’ll never be too much. I’ll tell you every hour of every day for the rest of my life. I love you. Without you, I’ll need a new dream. Please don’t make me find a new dream because nothing else will come close to this.”

Putting her hand to my cheek, she offers me a small smile.

“Is that a yes?” I ask, and she nods. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for not giving up on me. On us.”

“Never.”