Chapter 40

forty

ENCHANTED LETTERS

Back to our previous conversation about being brave.

I think the risks just got higher.

How can you know when they’re worth it?

-L.

You don’t. That’s why it’s a risk.

We don’t know each other. I’m a faceless person writing you enchanted letters. No judgement, but I’ve got a ready pen and time.

It’s much easier to tell someone how you feel when you don’t have to face them.

What exactly are you afraid of?

-Patch

Everything. Absolutely everything.

Losing people that are important to me.

At this point in the game, I couldn’t bear that.

I’ve lost people before and the part no one tells you about loss is that life still continues even without them. Good or bad. And sometimes you’re facing that alone.

I’m so tired of being alone.

-L.

It sounds to me like you know it’s worth the risk.

- Patch

What are you afraid of?

-L.

The same thing, I guess.

Losing people. Being left behind.

I worry I’m not enough for someone to stick around.

Or that if someone does, it’s because of magic. Not me.

-Patch

What a sorry pair we are .

So what you’re really saying is…

-L.

BE brAVE.

Take the leap and see what happens. No risk, no reward.

- Patch

PS. You can go back to listening to Taylor Swift — as long as it’s Fearless.

You’re brave. You’re smart. You can do anything you want.

So go do it.

You’re telling me this while combing your hair with your fingers, aren’t you?

-L.

I’m telling you to go dance in the rain.

- Patch

PS — I might be cool enough to pull off the hair thing.