Page 150 of Before Dawn

The world tilted.

Tears shimmered in my eyes as I turned to him, my heart crashing into my ribs. He planned all of this. He did all of this.

For me.

“Yes,” I whispered, barely audible over the soft lilt of the music.

Mikkel exhaled sharply, like he had been holding his breath. Then, in one fluid motion, he pulled me into his arms, crushing me against his chest.

“You’ve just made me the happiest man alive, Red,” he murmured against my hair. His voice was thick, almost disbelieving.

I closed my eyes, sinking into him,into us.

Then he pulled back, reaching into his pocket. “Do you know the song Sad Eyes by James Arthur?”

I shook my head, still breathless. “Barely. Why?”

He handed me something.

A letter.

Handwritten.

My fingers trembled as I took it, heart pounding in my ears.

Mikkel didn’t just tell me how he felt.

He wrote it down.

And somehow, that meant everything.

Dear Abigail-Ann (My Red),

For someone who always finds the right words, putting my feelings on paper wasn’t easy. But I needed to write this, so when I’m not with you, you’ll have a piece of me to hold onto.

Every moment with you is a gift, and I find myself constantly thinking about the way you’ve touched my life. You remind me of the song Sad Eyes by James Arthur because it captures the beautiful complexity I see in you. I see and know how heavy life has been for you at times. You’ve endured so much, and it breaks me to know how deeply you’ve been hurt. I know the scars of your past linger, and I don’t just want to kiss them—I want to help you heal them.

I can’t promise perfection, but I can promise you this—I will always strive to be the man you deserve.

I want to be the person who dries your sad eyes. I want to share in your laughter, your joy, and even your tears. You deserve so much happiness, and I want to be a part of that—supporting you, encouraging you, proving to you that there is always light, even after the darkest of nights.

Me haces sentir como si estuviera en un sueño, mi amor. Cuando dices que estás aquí conmigo, todo lo malo se desvanece, como si tu sola presencia iluminara hasta la noche más oscura. La ansiedad se aleja, y en tu abrazo encuentro paz. Nunca imaginé que podría sentir algo tan profundo. La vida se vuelve más hermosa, más luminosa, desde que te tengo a ti. Tus ojos verdes, tan intensos, me envuelven por completo. Cuando me miras, el mundo entero desaparece, y solo existimos tú y yo.

Forever Yours,

Mikkel S.

The lettertrembled in my hands, my vision blurred with tears. A sob broke free from my chest, raw and unrestrained. I pressed a palm to my lips, overwhelmed by the weight of his words, the depth of what he saw in me—what he wanted for me.

Mikkel made me feel things I had spent years yearning for. He didn’t just love me—he saw me.The little girl inside me, the one who had begged for scraps of affection. The woman I was now, unsure how to accept it. He made space for both, holding them with devotion.

Through my tears, I smiled.

“I don’t have the words to describe how happy I am.” My voice trembled, thick with emotion.

Mikkel exhaled softly, his grip tightening around my hand. “I know you’ve been through certain things in the past,” he murmured, “but I promise you, I’ll make this worth your while.”

I took a deep breath, slipping the letter carefully into my purse, as if safeguarding a sacred piece of him.

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