Shelby spent weeks ignoring my attempts to plan a weekend getaway. I was so excited, sending ideas and even booking a place. Finally, Shelby texted back on the morning of the trip, saying she "wasn’t feeling it." I didn’t say anything at first. She just packed up her things and left, posting a picture of herself at the destination later that afternoon. Shelby, left in silence, realized too lat...

è stata il mio primo vero amore, il mio primo di qualsiasi cosa, non smetterò mai di esserle grata per tutto il tempo che abbiamo passato insieme e di volerle bene perché secondo me non si può smettere di amare qualcuno che hai amato veramente. a volte è giusto che le strade si separino ma farà sempre parte del mio cuore.

We built a life together, and I loved him for who he truly was. Over time, alcohol took him from me. Black outs made me question who he was, if he was safe, and if I could trust him. We planned to move across the country together after I got a once in a lifetime opportunity. He wasn’t able to hold himself together on the first trip out there and made a massive fool of himself in front of import...