The next morning, I woke up while it was still early. I looked out the window of the cabin, and the stars were replaced with a purple sky and the sun trying to rise.

“Mel,” I whispered. “Come see.”

“Whaa?” she grumbled until she woke up. “What time is it?”

She grabbed her phone to check and said, “Shit, it’s four-thirty in the morning.”

She got out of bed and made her way to the window.

“Look at that,” she observed.

“Yeah, look at that,” I said as I put my arm around her and enjoyed the view. She grabbed my arm tight and smiled.

“Let’s go for a drive,” she suggested.

“I’m not opposed to that idea,” I said. “Do we have to cross the river again?”

Mel smirked.

We travelled back to Mel’s car, and both laughed when we got back to the river. We made it across. Together. We held hands the entire way with no intention of letting go. Once we got back to her car, she put her gunky boots in the truck and laughed at my ruined sneakers. I laughed, too. I got in the passenger seat and she hopped in the driver’s side, connected her AUX cord to her phone, and blasted it.

“Where are we going?” I asked. “I’m kinda hungry.”

“You could use a bite to eat?”

“Yeah, yeah, I could.” I smiled.

She smiled, too. “Let’s find somewhere along the way.”

“Where to?”

“Where ever that sky takes us,” she said as she put the car into drive. She backed up on the dirt road and swerved around. I held on tight.

“Unless you have any objections?” she asked.

“You lead the way.” I smiled.

“Then let’s go.” She hit the gas and drove off following the sky.

I was in love with her, and she loved me back. She gripped my hand tight, and we drove under the purple light that was fading the night away. Her melody brought me back from uncertainty and taught me how to see beauty, and somewhere along the distance of it all, I learned how to love. I learned to love honestly and openly, to wear my heart on my sleeve, and to also love myself even if I was full of faults. We didn’t have a destination, but we didn’t need one. The only thing we needed from each other was the reassurance of knowing that we weren’t going to be alone. I didn’t need the reassurance of a scale, or validation from anyone at school. I needed to focus on the people who cared about me. The Donnys, the Scarletts, the Mels.

Her hand was gripped around mine while the other was on the steering wheel. I knew we were in it together. I knew I could be honest and open, and I didn’t have to hide anything from her. She didn’t care how big or small I was. She loved me for who I was. My image didn’t determine if I was worthy of love. Mel’s hand wrapped around mine proved it. Her foot was on the gas, and I laid back in her passenger seat knowing that I would be okay. Knowing that I could handle it. Knowing that I could forgive myself. Knowing I would be forever thankful for her rhythms and her beats, knowing that I was forever thankful for Melody. My heart was heavy, but not with fear and anxiety anymore — it was full of love and support. It was a weight I could carry. Sure, people saw me as an inspiration, but I didn’t want that burden. In truth, I was only lucky enough to be surrounded by people who brought out the best in me. They were the people that built me up while helping me unlearn my bad habits. They were the ones who continued to care even when I messed up. They were the ones who showed me support, the ones who made me, me. And the best part of it? They were the ones who helped me believe that I always was, and always will be, worthy of love.