Prologue

"I'm sorry, Hunter. I can't do this anymore. I need to be free."

"Free?" I questioned. "To do what?"I was so confused.

"To see other people."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't want to be with you anymore. I'm too young to settle down. I want to be free to see what else is out there. Don't wait for me. I'm not coming back."

"Gwen…"

"I've made up my mind, Hunter."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, dangerously close to tears.

"I have to. You'll thank me one day. You'll see."

No, I don't believe that I will. I'm supremely glad I didn't say anything to her that I'd regret, but I still can't believe she did this to us. It's been two of the worst months of my life, and everyone has been telling me to move on from her, but how do you move on from the other half of your soul? I couldn't move on from her at gunpoint. The day we met will forever be on my mind. It's tattooed on my chest as well as her name. 8-13-2020: the first day of freshman year. We didn't go to the same middle school, but I thank God we were in the same district for high school every day. The freshman got assigned lockers when they picked up their schedules on the first day. Ours were right next to each other, and the rest is history. She was my first everything, and I was hers. We had plans. She was going to be my wife, and I won't accept anything less. I don't know what happened. She blindsided me and broke up with me. My heart shattered, and now she won't speak to me. She looks awful… sick… we both do, but she won't let me fix whatever I did wrong. I can't function; I can't breathe without her.

Doesn't she know that I love her more than anything? If she heard a rumor about it was just that. I would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship. No other girl matters. I feel like I haven't slept in months, not since she left me. It's after midnight, but I'm awake, pacing my bedroom and formulating a plan to get my girl back. I'll do anything to make her mine again.

No matter what, Gwendolyn Ayala is mine, and I will get her back at all costs.