I Fell in Love with Hope(117)

Our real story–the thousands of emails we shared, the phone calls, the moments of laughter, and the stories we wrote one another–do remain mine. He and I inspired this story, but ours will always belong to the past, and to my memory of it as it should.





To the boy who smiled and encouraged me to write, not for the world, but for myself, you will forever be a part of me. This story and the characters I described to you over the sound of a heart monitor and distant workings of the hospital all those years ago have finally found life. My heart beats with thunder and lightning, and even if it is weak, it is the one I gave you. It and this story are forever yours as much as they are mine.





To the reader who trudged through these sometimes tedious, sometimes heavy pages, my gratitude is not empty. Whatever you take with you, even if it is a single line, just know I appreciate the gift you’ve given me.





In the end, mean or kind, the world is full of people who are all similar. We are bone and blood, and some consciousness tied to it. So, don’t give your enemies the satisfaction of watching life go by, and whether it be a passion, a place, a person, or just a lonely friend bound to ink and paper, love as hard and as long as you can.





Thank you.





About the Author


Lancali

is a pseudonym for Lou-Andrea Callewaert. Born in France, she has been writing since early childhood. She shares her passion for literature on multiple social media platforms and attends the University of Florida, living with her service dog, Zelda. I Fell in Love with Hope is her debut novel.