message 2 of x

''Dear Catherine. ''

There isn't an hour without you in it.
I mend the boats, test them. . .
. . .and aII the whiIe the memories come in Iike the tide.

I thought today of when we were young. . .
. . .and you Ieft our worId for a bigger worId.

I was a Iot more scared than I wouId admit.

I fought my fear. . .
. . .by teIIing myseIf you'd come back someday. . .
. . .and trying to think of the first thing I'd say when I saw you again.

I must have tried out possibiIities.

What did I finaIIy say?

Not much.

My mouth wouIdn't work, except to kiss you.

When you said, 'I'm here to stay' . . .
. . .that said it aII.

WeII, I'm doing it again.

I keep imagining what I'd say to you if somehow you came back. ''

"Message in a Bottle", by Nicholas Sparks