Dear John Paul
I really don't know where to begin. I understand why you didn't want to know in the village the other day. When I think of what I did to you I can hardly bare to look at myself.
Knowing the pain I caused you makes me feel sick. And I don't just mean the physical pain; the knowledge that I betrayed my truest friend to gain the approval of those idiots will always be my greatest shame.
If you can't ever find it in your heart to forgive me then I will understand and I will forever mourn the loss of the greatest friendship that I ever knew.
There is no way that I can ever explain or justify what I did. To turn my back on you the way that I did, there is no justification for that.
All I can really say is that I was stupid, but more than that I was scared.
I don't think I even realised it myself but it was the fear that drove me to let you down so badly.
It wasn't so much that I was afraid of those morons thinking I was gay, its not like I had the greatest popularity in the school to begin with, I think it was more the fear that they may have been right.
When you kissed me at the dance I wanted you to. I didn't push you away because I wanted you to stop, I did it because I was scared that if I didn't I wouldn't be able to let you go.
This has all left me confused and alone, you might say that it's no more than I deserve and you'd be right. But if you ever can forgive my stupidity, my ignorance, if you can take my hand again in friendship I will promise never to let you down again.
Please John Paul, give me another chance.
Craig
John Paul wrote many replies before he realised that all he wanted to say could be contained within a few simple words of a text message.
"I miss you. You know where I am."
Craig sat next to John Paul on the bed. They had hardly spoken a word since Craig arrived. They both stared at their feet, hands by their sides gripping into the bed clothes.
Slowly Craig raised his fingers, moving his hand a few inches to cover that of his friend's. Their fingers interlaced as they finally turned to look at each other.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
A single tear escaped and made it's way down Craig's cheek. John Paul lifted his free hand and brushed the tear away, but then instead of moving his hand he rested it against Craig's face. Craig leaned into the soft caress trembling slightly at the touch.
This time when John Paul kissed him Craig wasn't afraid.