When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(115)

“I don’t think so,” I brush off my tears that are falling rapidly now.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I am. I’ve been right before when it comes to you. I hope to God you find him in there and that I’ll be able to meet him again. He’s in there, Graham. You just have to look for him,” Kennedy turns her head looking away from me as if it’s too painful to watch me walk away from her.

Walking out of the room, I leave the door open. I slam against the tiled wall outside her room. As I fall to the floor I cry. I cry because I’m not going to be that guy that she believes me to be. I can’t be him anymore, not when I know what that guy did to the girl sitting in that room. I ruined the one person I have ever loved, the one person who ever took a chance to see the real me, the girl who found redeeming qualities when she dug deep enough.

I don’t know how long I sit outside her room listening to her cry. Nurses come and go. Her parents walk by, each of them padding me on the back in comfort. That’s when I get up from the ground, brush off my jeans and walk out into the waiting room.

Dan’s still sitting with Violet rubbing comforting circles on her back. They both stand when they see me. I force a smile at them. I can tell Violet wants to say something. Just as soon as she opens her mouth she closes it. A realization crosses her eyes and I know that she knows. She knows what I did in that hospital room. She knows that I just walked out on her best friend when she probably needs me the most. She slowly shakes her head then buries her head in Dan’s chest.

It’s the only way I know how to make this all okay. Kennedy is going to heal. Those bruises will heal with time just like mine have. I think we both know deep down it’s never going to be the same. I can’t look at her knowing that every painful thing in her life is a result of me.

I’m not strong enough to love her the way she deserves. I believe that you’re allowed to love someone, but still know in your heart that you can’t be with that person. That’s how I feel about Kennedy. I’m young. I’m na?ve, some would say, but I can see the special inside of her. She’s a rare one who somehow is timid and sarcastic and overwhelmingly beautiful to the point that it hurts to just be in her presence.

I know I love her more than anyone else will ever be capable of. I’m also smart enough to know that I’m not good enough for the level of grace that she holds in her heart.

Our relationship will be bruised with all of our misfortune. Some wounds just don’t heal.





-ACKNOWLEDGMENT-



A giant thank you to my husband, Bryan, who has stood by my side and been my biggest supporter. Thank you for always making me laugh even when I want to cry. With you by my side, I know that anything is possible. Also, one day I will buy you that Velcro wall that you’ve been talking about. I promise.

Even though they won’t be reading this for hopefully many many many years, I need to say thank you to my children for dealing with the scatterbrained version of myself that I tend to turn into while I’m being pulled into a different world. I hope one day that you know the importance of sacrifice like Graham and Kennedy, but more importantly please allow yourself to fall in love even with the knowledge that you may end up hurt in the end. You never know where life may take you.

Thank you to my family for dealing with my nonsense, believing me when I say “It’s almost done” even though we all knew I was going to read it one more time. A big thank you to my sister, Katie, who was the first person to ever read When Our Worlds Collide and for always knowing when I need a little bit of encouragement. Thank you to my Mom and Dad for instilling the importance of passion in me. You are the reason why I finished When Our Worlds Collide by showing me that hard work always pays off in the end. I love you all more than you can know and appreciate everything you do for me and our family.

A GIANT thank you to Christa Holland from Paper and Sage Design for making my first cover design such a blessing. Your work is amazing and what you came up with for Graham’s and Kennedy’s story is beyond my wildest dreams. A big virtual hug to you. I can’t wait to work with you again in the near future.

Thank you to my beta readers, the ones who read the first drafts and the last drafts and everything in between. Holly, Krystina, Bethany, and Katie thank you so much for all of your words of encouragement and excitement for Graham’s and Kennedy’s story. Every time you said “I need to know what happens next” meant the world to me. I promise that there will be more to come from them. Their story is far from being over.

Thank you to anyone who takes a chance on a debut writer. I’m in love with my characters and I hope you find something to love in them too.