Like most of these stories, I wanted to extend the Epilogue. I pick up where it left off (where Park receives the postcard), and I note how long the two have been apart.

I hope you enjoy this take on the story.

Park - 1 year apart

I loved you.

Her words were screaming at him in his mind. It felt like his heart had forgotten how to work properly and his lungs simply gave up.

Park's dad was watching him from his doorway. After a few seconds, he walked over and settled on the bed next to him.

"Hey," he said, seemingly unsure what to do next. "Hey, I know…" but he trailed off.

"You don't have to say anything." Park whispered. He continued to stare at her words. A part of him was undeniably happy. Even though he told her a million times that he loves her, she never said it back. Even one time, she said "I know," but offered nothing else. Park always knew she had strong feelings for him, but he would be lying if he did not admit that he was waiting for her to say… something. This confirmed what he thought she felt.

On the other hand, it says 'loved.' Past tense. His brain could not even process what this means.

Even though she never called, or answered any of his letters, he still hoped. Even when he stopped sending letters to her, he hoped. He never stopped thinking about her and he never changed that voice in his head from 'love' to 'loved.' But it looks like she did.

It has been over a year since he saw her and he wondered what her life was like in this moment. He never found out about what happened to Eleanor's family. For a few weeks after she left, there did not seem to be any changes - but then it happened very quickly.

His dad told him that Eleanor's Uncle had shown up at her old house one day and tore the place apart. Park was at school, but apparently it was a big scene. Richie was drunk and Eleanor's mom was trying to excuse the bruises on her face as an accident. The crying, screaming, and fighting got worse when her Uncle saw the living conditions of the house. Police arrived, neighbors were called in for witnesses, and before he knew it, the house was empty. At least for a while. There was that one time Park found himself wandering to the house in hope of having a piece of Eleanor for a moment and Richie showed up. Completely drunk, but completely alone.

It has been just him in that house since. Eleanor's mom and all her siblings disappeared and Park has not heard anything. Until this postcard.

I have to write back. He sat up and moved across his room to his desk. His dad watched him get out paper and start scribbling away.

"Park," his dad said, quietly.

Park ignored him and kept writing.

"Park," his dad said more forcefully, getting up and placing his hand over Park's to stop his writing for a second.

"We miss Eleanor, but we miss you too. I think this was her saying goodbye, son."

"We said we would never say goodbye," Park said, staring at the paper in front of him. He knows it sounds cheesy, but he is going to hold onto this for as long as he can.

Park's dad sighed and squeezed his hand before letting go and walking away. Park returned to his letter. He wanted to apologize for not sending anything for the past weeks. He wanted to tell her all about his Senior year and how much life sucks here. He wanted to list everything he missed about her: her humor, her voice, her laugh, her smile, her hair, her stubbornness… hell he missed her being angry with him. He missed her because everything without her feels empty and lifeless. Everything he touched felt hollow.

He stopped and turned his head to look at the mirror hanging on his wall. What would she think if she saw me now? He touched the rough eye liner he smudges on his eyes every day. He forced a smile but thought he looked manic.

We aren't the same people we were back on that bus. But I have to try.

He crumpled up the half written letter and threw it in the box with the letters he never sent. Senior year was almost over. He got through Prom with Cat, now he just has to get through Graduation. Once his mother is satisfied with his High School experience, he has the whole summer to get Eleanor.