She dragged herself and her bag up the last few steps to reach Seth’s door, and knocked.

“Seth,” she called out. “It’s Tara.”

No answer.

“Please open the door. Just hear me out. Please.” She rapped on the door again. “Are you home?”

Maybe he was out, but her paranoid mind told her that he was home on the other side of the door, silently listening to her plea. Heart steeled and cold. Wanting her to suffer. Because she deserved it.

Her knees threatened to buckle so she leaned against the door. “Aubrey says hello. Don’t be mad at her for giving me your address. I’m her best friend and she probably couldn’t help but take pity on me. I’ve been such a wreck. If I had more energy, I would’ve noticed how many people I was worrying. It seems I’ve been too nice lately, and it was freaking people out. I’m a little offended, but then again Little Miss Sunshine just isn’t me. I think I’ve been trying to make up for what I did to you by helping other people.”

Reason returned to her. Seth might be angry with her, but he wasn’t cruel. If he was home, he would’ve opened the door by now. But even knowing he wasn’t home didn’t stop her from spilling her heart out to the freaking door. The words wouldn’t stop.

“But I don’t want you to worry. I’m not here to make you worry. Being here near you is making me feel alive again. And I’m terrified—really terrified—that you won’t give me another chance, but knowing that I tried to win you back will help me move forward. I don’t want a life without you, but I’ll respect your decision. I’ll continue to dream, and follow my passion. I won’t be whole, but I’ll be something.”

She cleared her throat. It was true. She was done with existing like a ghost. Life was too precious and amazing to watch it pass by while she wallowed in a fog of grief. She was going to do everything in her power to convince Seth to give her another chance, but if it really was over, then she would go on. She wasn’t going to allow anyone or anything to erase who she was. She had the power to decide who she was and to live the life she chose. Loving Seth had taught her that.

“I didn’t mean it. Any of it. Especially the part when I said I could never love you. How could I never love you if I’m already in love with you? That was the biggest lie I’d ever told. But I need you to hear this. Even if I’ve irrevocably broken your heart and you could never trust me again, know that I love you with everything in me. I love you so much that being with you makes the world a place full of hope and promise, and I feel like I can do anything. With you by my side, I won’t be afraid of losing myself again, because you bring out everything true inside me.”