you and Eddie have been best friends since kindergarten. He’s been in love with you since seventh grade but never told you because he was afraid he’d lose you.

one day you and Ed were hanging out in his room like usual when he got up to go to the bathroom. Then you see a piece of paper on his desk and get up to look at it, assuming it’s song lyrics or a DnD campaign. But when you open it it’s a much different story.

Handwriting. Messy. Young. Written fast with bad penmanship that improved as he got older. Words spilling across the page like they'd been fighting to get out.

"Lexi —

I don't really know how to start this because I've never had to explain something I already know. You are the most important person in my life and that terrifies me more than anything in my stupid Dungeons and Dragons campaigns ever could.

Every time some guy at school looks at you I want to punch a wall. Which is insane because we're just friends. Right? We've been just friends since we were kids and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But sometimes you smile at me and my chest does this thing and I can't breathe.

Sometimes I think you feel it too. The way you look at me when you think I'm not paying attention. Or maybe that's just hope being stupid.

Apart from you I am completely alone in this world. My parents don't care. School is fine but it's not YOU. Nothing is you.

If I ever told you this I'd lose you forever and that thought keeps me up at night. So I guess this letter is my way of screaming into a void where only paper can hear me.

— E"

Ending abruptly. No signature beyond initials. Sentence cut short. Cowardice preserved in ink.