Prologue: Ginny
Dear Family and Friends,
I ran. That's the only way to explain it. I ran away from you and from my feelings. The war was over and I was tired of being just a Weasley. I was supposed to be marrying Harry that month. Everything was perfect, blissfully perfect, but then I stopped and looked around. It wasn't what I wanted. It took me awhile to see it, but I finally realized that my life wasn't how I wanted it. Everything was what everyone else wanted for me. I didn't love Harry, and I don't really think he loved me. I think he wanted to. I wanted to love him because it was expected of us, but it doesn't work that way. What we were doing just wasn't right; we were marrying not because we were in love, but because it's what you and everyone else wanted.
I did the only thing I knew to do; I packed my bags a week before I was supposed to walk down the isle with Harry, and left the Burrow. That was five years ago today, and I haven't been back since. I didn't leave a note or a message telling you where I was going or why. I didn't really know where I was going and I wasn't completely sure why either. Looking back on it, I know it was the right thing to do. But at the time, I wasn't so sure. I traveled around the world for about a year. I went to Paris, Rome, and all over the place. Then I flew across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. I traveled around, going from state to state-- all fifty of them. I think I was looking for the right place, a place that I could call my own. I settled down in Texas for a while, living on a cattle ranch. That was great; I loved it there. Big tough cowboys constantly surrounded me, and they taught me everything I know about horses and life on a ranch. They became my temporary family. Just as I left you, my real family, I grew tired of the ranch and Texas. I packed my bags again and hit the road. I just drove, stopping here and there at hotels. I finally came to New York again, and I settled here. I love the rush of the city, the crowds (and most of all the shopping). I got a job working in a fashion magazine and slowly worked my way up the line. I designed clothes in my spare time, I'm sure you didn't know it, but that has always been one of my dreams. I got a small apartment that would be much too small for more than three or four people, but it suits me perfectly. It is here, in New York City, that I have decided to stay.
Sincerely,
Virginia Weasley
P.S. Tell Ron and everyone that I love and miss them!