Chapter 67 CARTER’S EMAIL
Alex
Alex opened the email, his heart is pounding.
Elias and Alex,
I just found out about the lawsuit. My parents didn’t tell me. I only discovered it yesterday when my therapist mentioned seeing it online.
I’m writing to say I’m sorry. And that I had nothing to do with it. I told my parents to drop it. They refused, said I couldn’t stop them.
You didn’t drive me to anything. My suicide attempt was my choice. My illness. My responsibility. Not yours.
I’m sending this email to my parents’ lawyer. Asking them to drop the suit completely. To leave you alone. I don’t know if it’ll help but I had to try.
I’m doing better now, real therapy, real work. I understand what I did was wrong. Unforgivable even.
I hope you’re both happy. I hope you build the life you deserve.
I’m truly sorry for everything.
Carter
Elias read it over Alex’s shoulder. “Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Could be manipulation. Another way to mess with us.”
“Or it could be genuine. He sounds different. Clearer.”
“People don’t change that much.”
“You did. You changed for me.”
Elias was quiet. Then: “What do you want to do?”
“Forward it to David. See if it helps.”
They sent the email to their lawyer. He called an hour later.
“This is good. Really good. If Carter’s willing to testify that you didn’t cause his attempt, the lawsuit falls apart.”
“So we might not have to pay?” Alex asked.
“I’ll contact their lawyer. See if Carter’s email changes anything. But yes, this could end it.”
Hope felt dangerous. Alex didn’t want to feel it. Didn’t want to be disappointed again.
But it was there anyway. Small and fragile.
Two days later, David called back. “The lawsuit is dropped. Completely. Carter’s testimony would have destroyed their case. They’re withdrawing with prejudice. Meaning they can’t refile.”
“It’s over?” Elias asked.
“It’s over. You’re free.”
After hanging up, Alex and Elias just sat there, not speaking, not moving, just processing.
“We don’t have to pay,” Alex said.
“We don’t have to pay.”
“Carter helped us.”
“I know. I don’t know how to feel about that.”
“Me neither.”
That night they celebrated properly. Went to their Italian restaurant. Ordered too much food. Drank wine. Laughed.
“I forgot what this felt like,” Alex said. “Being happy without waiting for something bad to happen.”
“Me too. But I could get used to it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
They walked home slowly. Hand in hand. The April night is warm. Campus quiet.
At home, Elias pulled Alex close. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Even after everything? All the drama? All the fighting?”
“Especially after everything. Because we survived. Together.”
They made love slowly. Taking time. Relearning each other. Remembering why they’d fought so hard.
After, Alex said, “Should we respond? To Carter’s email?”
“Do you want to?”
“Part of me does, he helped us. That deserves acknowledgment.”
“And the other part?”
“Wants to pretend he doesn’t exist. Move on completely.”
“Then let’s move on. We don’t owe him anything.”
“Don’t we? He could have stayed silent. Let the lawsuit destroy us. He didn’t.”
Elias thought about it. “Okay. We’ll send something. Brief. Acknowledging what he did. Then we’re done.”
They wrote it together. Short. Simple.
Carter,
Thank you for your email and for telling your lawyer the truth. It helped end the lawsuit.
We’re glad you’re doing better. We wish you well.
Take care.
Elias and Alex
Sent.
Final word, final contact, done.
“Now it’s really over,” Alex said.
“Now we can actually live.”
May brought finals. Alex studied but not obsessively. Passed everything. Maintained his standing. No probation. No drama.
Just normal grad school stress.
Elias got a promotion at work. Senior editorial assistant. More money equals more responsibility, more stability.
“We’re doing it,” he said. “Actually building a life.”
“Feels weird. Normal.”
“Good weird?”
“The best weird.”
Summer came. Two years since they’d met. Two years since the first letter.
They took a vacation. First real one. Just a weekend camping trip. But it felt like freedom.
No phones. No emails. No drama. Just them and nature and quiet.
“I want more of this,” Alex said by the campfire.
“More camping?”
“More peace. More normal. More us without everything else.”
“Me too. We’ve earned it.”
They came back refreshed. Ready for what came next.
Alex’s second year of grad school. Elias’s continued work. Their life together.
August brought move preparation. Their lease was ending. Time to find a new place.
“Do we renew here?” Alex asked. “Or look for something bigger?”
“What do you want?”
“Something that feels more permanent. More like ours.”
They found a two-bedroom. One for sleeping. One for Alex’s studying and Elias’s freelance work.
More space, more light, more home.
“This is good,” Elias said, looking at the empty apartment. “This is really good.”
“Yeah. It is.”
They moved in September. Des and Sana helped. Katie brought champagne for the new place.
“Look at you two,” Katie said. “All grown up and domestic.”
“Shut up,” Elias said. But he was smiling.
That night, in their new bedroom, Alex said, “I’m happy.”
“Me too.”
“Like really happy. Not waiting for something bad. Just happy.”
“Good. You deserve to be happy.”
“We deserve happiness.”
The fall semester started. Alex’s classes were harder. More demanding. But manageable.
He made friends in the program. Actual friends. Not just classmates. People who knew his story but didn’t judge.
Life felt normal. Good. Real.
October brought their second anniversary. Two years since everything started.
Elias planned something special. Wouldn’t tell Alex what.
“Just trust me,” he said.
“I hate surprises.”
“You’ll like this one.”
He took Alex to the rose arch. The place where they were supposed to meet on that first Valentine’s Day.
“Why are we here?” Alex asked.
“Because this is where it started, where you ran, where everything became real.”
“Okay?”
Elias took his hand. “Two years ago, you sent me a letter that changed my life. You saw me when I felt invisible. You loved me when I thought I was unlovable. You fought for us when everything tried to tear us apart.”
Alex’s heart was racing. “Elias. What are you doing?”
“Something I’ve wanted to do for months.”
Elias got down on one knee.
Pulled out a ring.
Simple sliver ring. Perfect.
“Alex Lee. Will you marry me?”
Alex couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak. Just stared.
“You don’t have to answer now,” Elias said quickly. “I know it’s fast. I know we’re young. But I love you. I want to spend my life with you. Whatever that looks like.”
“Yes,” Alex said. His voice breaking.
“Yes?”
“Yes. Of course yes.”
Elias stood up. Slipped the ring on Alex’s finger. Kissed him while people around them started clapping.
“We’re getting married,” Alex said. Dazed.
“We’re getting married.”
“Holy shit.”
“Holy shit.”
They called everyone. Katie screamed. Alex’s mom cried. Elias’s parents were thrilled.
Des and Sana showed up at their apartment with more champagne.
“I can’t believe you’re engaged,” Des said.
“Me neither. It doesn’t feel real.”
“It’s real. Look at the ring.”
Alex looked. The silver band catches the light. Real. Solid. Theirs.
That night, lying in bed, Elias said, “No regrets?”
“None. You?”
“Not one. But we don’t have to rush. We can take our time planning.”
“How much time?”
“However long you want. A year. Two years. Whenever feels right.”
“What if I want it soon? Like next summer?”
“Then next summer it is.”
They fell asleep engaged, planning, dreaming, and happy.
But in the morning, there was a knock at the door.
A man. Middle-aged. Tired looking.
“Alex Lee?”
“Yes?”
“I’m Robert Mitchell. Carter’s father. Can we talk?“