I watched, sadly, as the car pulled away from the graveyard, leaving my parents with it. Why did this seem like the end rather than the beginning? My emotional limits had been pushed and all I needed was to see the notes my dad left me. Robbins told me that the box of letters would be waiting for me back at my house in my room. She had dropped it off after I had already left for the funeral this morning.

It seemed like eternity before we arrived back home. I bolted out of the car and into the hotel as fast as I could. Ever since I found out there were letters from my dad, I needed to read them. I rushed to my room, slamming and locking my door in the process. I needed to be alone for this. The box was sitting on my bed and I took a deep breath before sitting next to the box. On top was a piece of paper saying, "Don't open the letters that haven't happened yet."

I wasn't sure what that meant so I set that piece of paper down and looked at the first letter on the front, it read, "To my Sweet Sixteen Daughter." I hadn't turned sixteen yet so I understood that I needed to wait to read that letter until then that day. I pulled out another letter and it said, "To my eighteen year old daughter." There were nine more letters and on the front of them said, "To my twenty one year old daughter. Wedding Day. To my daughter's soul mate. To my grandchildren. Graduation Day. To Ethan. To my present day daughter. One year after my death. And whenever you need to remember me letter." I opened the, "To my present day daughter," letter and began to read it.

"Dear Kelly, I see you are probably getting this after my funeral. I love you more than anything in this world. Don't worry about anything right now because things will get better, I promise. I know I died young and I surely wasn't planning it but I need you to be strong and move on from this horrid tragedy that struck us. I knew that trying to save you could be deadly so yes, I spent all day while you were gone, writing these letters just in case you never saw me again. Please don't read these letters until the day comes. Please keep running because you are a very talented runner and I don't want this to ruin that for you. I hope you become the world fastest runner or something awesome like that. I want you to grow up happy and I will always be in your heart. I love you Kel. I'll be looking over you every day, helping you when you need me. I expect great things from you and don't let a psychopath like Kyle ruin you. Never give up in life and remember that no matter how alone you feel, you have several people that love and care for you. I love you again so much, more than you will never know until you are a mother. Goodbye, my sweet girl. Love, Dad."

Even when I thought I couldn't cry anymore, a few tears rushed down my pale cheeks. He was such a good dad, it's a tragedy that he's really gone. I used to think his overprotectiveness was annoying but I'd do anything to have him back again. There was still one other letter that I could read and it was the, "Whenever you need to remember me letter." I ripped it open the letter and paused before starting to read. A part of me wanted to stop remembering him for a day, just so the pain of losing him would go away. I decided against that.

"Dear Kelly, I bet you are reading this letter because you miss me a lot and need to remember some good times with me, well here it goes. Do remember the day I taught you how to ride a bike? Yes, I bet you are smiling right now. I bet you remember how you ran over my foot when riding and broke one of my toes. Sure, you learned quickly but I probably still have a scar on my foot from you. Um, another time was when we were throwing a football to each other and you hit me square in the chest and I fell to the ground. I always knew you were athletic but damn, you really had a good throw.

I loved when we always used to go running together and you would always race me and usually beat me. How funny is it that a daughter can beat her police officer dad in a race. I should have been the one winning but I guess I was getting too old to keep up with my girl. But it was worth losing to see the grin on your face every time you beat me. You were always a competitive one that's for sure.

Do you remember that vacation to Florida? Man, I got so sunburned that I was as red as a lobster and barely could move for days. You and your mom left me at the hotel and went shopping almost every day. I thought we wouldn't have any money left to eat or to do anything else fun because of my sunburn and you and your mom's shopping days. Didn't you love when we would hang out all the time when you were little? I just wish you were a little girl again and that we never stopped hanging out as much as we did.

We had a lot of good times, and I really hope you never forget any of them. I gave you a few memories in here but your mom had tons of scrapbooks that you can look at any time you want. I love you so much and I know your mom did too. I bet her and I are hanging out in heaven together and missing you so much. Stay strong baby, and look back of this letter anytime you want. P.S. I need you to know that I would never take back the self-defense training that Kyle gave you because he did teach you some very valuable things and made you stronger. If I would have known about Kyle, I would have stopped him. He managed to trick almost everyone he knew but I wish you never had to be in the situation. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you and those final moments of my life you can guarantee it was thinking about you. Goodbye. Love Dad."

I cried at the letter and smiled at all the memories he reminded me of. He was the greatest dad anyone could have had. He took some much time to write these letters and I would cherish them forever. Not everyone was lucky enough to have memories like these from their deceased loved ones so I was thankful for that. I shoved all the letters back in the box. I grabbed the letter for Ethan and headed downstairs to see my aunt and uncle talking in the living room.

"Are you okay?" My uncle asked, looking at my reddened, puffy eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I lied.

I could have been better but I didn't want them to worry because that's all they have done since I had gotten back from the Bahamas. I'd eventually let them read the letters, just not today. I wanted to give Ethan the letter that my dad addressed to him, curious what he said in the letter to Ethan.

"Can I walk over to Ethan's for a little bit?" I asked.

His house was only a street over but my uncle was hesitant about letting me go alone. I couldn't be afraid of everything and live in a bubble for the rest of my life. I managed to talk my uncle into letting me go alone. I liked being on my own anyway. I had texted Ethan that I was on my way so he was expecting me. When I got to his house I rang his doorbell. He answered still wearing the suit from the funeral.

"Hey. How are you doing?" He asked softly.

"I'm doing as good as expected." I replied as he came outside.

We sat down on his porch swing. There was a creaking noise as we swung back and forth. I handed him the letter and smiled at him, telling him that it was from my dad. He slowly opened it and I was dying to know what it said inside. His eyes were shining as he looked down at me. I wrapped my arms around him and listened as he read the letter out loud to me.

"Dear Ethan, so I'm not sure if you will be my daughter's soul mate or not, but if you are, then you will be getting another letter later on. Kelly didn't really tell me much about you but after talking to you once we rescued you, I knew that you cared for Kelly as much as I did. I want you to take care of her as much as you can. Cherish her because girls like her a rare now and days. Don't rush things because knowing what she has gone through, she needs to take things slow. If you learn that you are not made for each other, then I need you to not break her heart as much as you can. Simply send her on her way, sure, she will be upset but that's better than dragging out a relationship that isn't working.

If you do love her, then treat her like it. It will take some time for her to get better and I hope she has you there to help her along the way because trust me, for me being a cop, I know people who went through what she did have a rocking road ahead of them. One favor for me though, end it now before you get close to her if you don't want to be with her for the long run. I know that's a lot to ask of a teenager and it's a huge decision but the longer you are with her, the more pain she will be in if you leave her. We both know she doesn't need any more pain in her life right now. She needs you if you want to be there for her. I hope you will be reading some of my other letters later on. Goodbye Ethan, From Matt Hunter."

Ethan stared at me to see my reaction and to be honest, I wasn't really sure how I was feeling or what I was thinking. All I knew was the words that Ethan had just read to me. What if he decided that he didn't want me? I took several deep breaths and stared off in the distance. What do I even say to him after that?

"Kelly? Are you okay?" He asked concern in his eyes.

"Yeah, it's just been a long day." I replied, frowning.

"Yes." He said handing me back the paper.

"What?" I asked.

"Yes, I am going to stay. I'm not going anywhere. You can't get rid of me that quickly. After everything we have been through and feeling that I was going to lose you to Kyle I realized something." He said, causing me to look back at him.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I love you, Kelly Hunter." He smiled as he grabbed my hand and held it tightly in his hand.

I leaned in and kissed him on the lips, knowing that I had missed him so much while I was gone. My lips softly pressed against his, running my fingers through his hair. I could barely breathe and my heart was racing but in a good way. This was a feeling that I hadn't ever really felt before. I loved being with him and never wanted to leave his side. It was the best feeling to know that he had my back and was staying with me through the worst parts of my life.

"I love you too." I whispered in as I pulled away from him, my forehead resting against his forehead.

"Everything will be okay, I promise." He said giving me a small peck on the lips.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." I replied as I got up to leave.

Ethan didn't reply to my strange comment, which I had a reason for saying. He shouldn't be promising things like that because he can't control what happens all the time. For all I know, I could get kidnapped again and life could get worse, you just never know now and days. I never believed Kyle would kidnap me and kill my parents but it happened. Life was too unpredictable to make promises like that, even if it was just to comfort me.

I told him goodbye, all I wanted was to go home and sleep. This day just needed to be over with and I could start moving on with my life. I was exhausted physically and mentally. I could sleep as long as I wanted, which was the best news I had today.