Dear Ava

by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Tyler lets out a long-suffering sigh. “It’s a really, really long story—and I should know it because my future dad likes to tell it, but it started with a love letter he put in my sister’s locker…” I smile. Technically, it started the moment my eyes met hers freshman year in high school, but I let him begin his way.

Everyone files into the kitchen, and I turn to Ava, finding her eyes as misty as mine. She jumps at me and I clutch her close. It’s the little things. God, the little things.