Page 64 of 500 First Editions (The Romantics #3)

To my brave daughter,

Life isn’t always easy. In fact, it rarely is. What we think we want is usually not even close to what we need. I’m sorry that California wasn’t what you and I hoped it would be for you.

The world is often an unkind place. I wish that I could swoop in and fix it all. No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my baby girl. But having everything fixed for you would take the living out of life.

What’s important is that you find pockets of beauty in the world that reflect your heart, then cherish and nurture them to leave those pockets better than you found it for the next person.

It can be easy to think, just because someone is in your life for a time, that their direction in life is aligned with yours.

Pursue your dreams unapologetically. Pursue yourself unapologetically, then look left and right to see who’s traveling beside you—not who’s waving at you while they move in the opposite direction.

Life is full of intersections. Honor them while you pass through, but keep chasing the parallel lines.

I’m proud of you for choosing yourself instead of waiting for someone to choose you. I hope that you fall in love with the road as much as I have. Life becomes a beautiful thing when you step outside of the ordinary and challenge what is expected of you and what you expect of yourself.

And if my opinion counts for anything, I think you’re headed for a beautiful life.

Love,

Dad