Preface:
ItwasasunnydayinMay,theperfectweatherforapicnic.Butinsteadofenjoyingthesunshine,Susansataloneinherroom,staringatthelettershehadreceivedthatmorning.Itwasfromherex-boyfriend,John,whomshehadnotseenorspokentoforovertenyears.Thememoriescamefloodingback,andSusanknewshecouldnolongerignorethefeelingsshehadburieddeepinside.
Chapter1:TheStartofSomethingBeautiful
SusanmetJohnwhentheywerebothfreshmenincollege.Shewasimmediatelydrawntohiseasycharmandinfectioussmile.Theystarteddatingsoonafter,anditwasn'tlongbeforetheybecameinseparable.Theyspentcountlesshourswalkinghandinhand,talkingabouttheirdreamsandaspirations.
Chapter2:TheMisunderstanding
Butastimewenton,SusanbegantofeellikeJohnwasneglectingher.Hewouldcancelplansatthelastminute,forgetimportantdates,anddidn'tseemasinterestedinspendingtimewithher.Susantriedtotalktohimaboutit,buthealwaysbrusheditoff,sayingthathewasjustbusywithschool.
Chapter3:TheBreakup
Eventually,Susancouldn'ttakeitanymoreanddecidedtoendthingswithJohn.Hewasdevastatedandbeggedhertogivehimanotherchance,butSusanwastoohurtanddidn'tthinkshecouldevertrusthimagain.Theywenttheirseparatewaysanddidn'tspeakforyears.
Chapter4:TheLetter
Butnow,afterallthistime,Johnhadwrittenheraletter.Heapologizedforeverythingthathappenedbetweenthemandsaidthathestilllovedher.Susandidn'tknowwhattomakeofit.Washesincere?Didhereallywanttotryagain?Sheneededtimetothink.
Chapter5:TheMemories
Susancouldn'thelpbutthinkaboutallthegoodtimesshehadsharedwithJohn.Thewalksinthepark,thenightsspentwatchingmovies,thecountlessmealstheyhadcookedtogether.Sherealizedthatshehadneverstoppedlovinghim,butwastooafraidtoadmitit.
Chapter6:TheRegret
SusanregrettednotgivingJohnasecondchance.Shewonderedwhattheirliveswouldhavebeenlikeiftheyhadstayedtogether.Maybetheywouldhavegottenmarriedandstartedafamily.Maybetheywouldhavetraveledtheworldtogether.Shecouldn'thelpbutfeellikeshehadmissedoutonsomethingspecial.
Chapter7:TheConfession
SusandecidedtowritebacktoJohn.Shepouredherheartoutintheletter,tellinghimhowmuchshemissedhimandhowsorryshewasfornotgivinghimanotherchance.Shehitsendandwaitedanxiouslyforhisreply.
Chapter8:TheResponse
John'sresponsecamequickly.Hewasoverjoyedtohearfromherandsaidthathestilllovedhertoo.Hesuggestedtheymeetupinpersontotalkthingsthrough.
Chapter9:TheReunion
SusanandJohnmetatacoffeeshop,bothfeelingnervousandexcitedatthesametime.Theyhuggedeachothertightlyandtalkedforhours.Theylaughedandcriedastheyreminiscedaboutthepastanddiscussedtheirhopesforthefuture.
Chapter10:TheForgiveness
SusanrealizedthatshehadbeenholdingontoherangertowardsJohnforfartoolong.Sheforgavehimforhismistakesandhopedthathecouldforgiveherfornotgivinghimanotherchancesooner.
Chapter11:TheSecondChance
JohnandSusandecidedtogivetheirrelationshipanothertry.Theytookthingsslowatfirst,butsoonrealizedthattheirloveforeachotherhadneverfaded.
Chapter12:TheNewBeginning
SusanandJohngotmarriedayearlater,surroundedbytheirfamilyandfriends.Theystartedanewlifetogether,filledwithlove,forgiveness,andthehopeofabrightfuture.
Chapter13:TheLessonsLearned
Susanlearnedthatholdingontoangerandresentmentonlyleadstoregret.Johnlearnedthatcommunicationiskeyinanyrelationship,andthatheneededtobemoreattentivetohispartner'sneeds.
Chapter14:TheJourney
SusanandJohn'sjourneywasnotalwayseasy,buttheyfacedeverychallengetogether.Theytraveledtheworld,startedafamily,andgrewoldtogether,alwaysrememberingthelessonstheyhadlearnedalongtheway.
Chapter15:TheMemoriesRevisited
Astheysattogetherontheporchoftheirhome,SusanandJohnreminiscedaboutthepastonceagain.Theylaughedatoldjokesandcriedatthememoriesoflovedoneswhohadpassedaway.Theyweregratefulforeachotherandthelifetheyhadbuilttogether.
Chapter16:TheLetterAgain
Oneday,SusancameacrosstheletterthatJohnhadwrittenherallthoseyearsago.Shereaditagain,smiledtoherself,andwonderedwhattheirliveswouldhavebeenlikeifshehadgivenhimanotherchancesooner.
Chapter17:TheGratefulness
Susanwasgratefulforthatletter,forwithoutit,shemayneverhaverealizedhowmuchshestilllovedJohn.Shewasgratefulforthesecondchancetheyweregiven,andforthelifetheyhadbuilttogether.
Chapter18:TheAging
Astheygrewoldertogether,SusanandJohnfacednewchallenges.Theirbodiesbegantoweaken,theirmemoriesfaded,buttheirloveforeachotherremainedstrong.
Chapter19:TheAcceptance
Susanacceptedthattheirtimetogetherwaslimited,butvowedtomakeeverymomentcount.Shecherishedeverysmile,everykiss,everymemorytheycreatedtogether.
Chapter20:TheGoodbye
Eventually,thetimecamewhenSusanhadtosaygoodbyetoJohn.Itwasthehardestthingshehadeverdone,butsheknewthathewouldalwaysbewithherinherheart.
Chapter21:TheClosure
AfterJohn'spassing,Susanfoundherselfonceagainstaringatthatsameletterhehadwrittenhersomanyyearsago.Shesmiled,realizingthateverythinghadcomefullcircle.Theyhadbeengivenasecondchance,andtheyhadmadethemostofit.
Chapter22:TheLove
SusanknewthatshewouldalwaysloveJohn,andthattheirlovestorywouldliveonforever,inthememoriestheyhadcreatedtogether,intheletterhehadwrittenher,andinthelovethatstillburnedbrightinherheart.
