Page 6 of Pieces: A Companion Piece

When you do, I will meet the new version of you for the first time. Because I understand your whole world has changed. You have changed. The Shay I hugged a couple of weeks ago is just a piece of the new you.

After reading our friends’ memories and anecdotes, it’s clear there are many pieces that make up who you are. But one trait runs through every piece.

You are a fighter. You are a Tenley. You’re Shay, for crying out loud!

You will beat your demons.

Much love and a hundred hugs,

Corey

FROM ASH & NATHAN

From Ash

Hey, sweetheart. When Jordan shared his plan to focus on lighthearted stuff for his entries in this book, I decided that Nathan and I will cover the boring grown-up bits in our section. Then you can cruise on by to the fun crap on the next page, where Jordan and James are waiting.

First things first, when you come home—and you will—we’re gonna give you a month or two to get settled. Rest, eat, spend time with River and Reese, decompress, go easy on yourself—all that. But after that, Nathan and I will come over for dinner once a week. We’ll invite Emerson and Danny too.

You share enough traits with River that I suspect you’ll wanna close yourself in a lot, and I don’t trust the Reese side of you to be stubborn enough to see people after what you’ve suffered through. But you will need family.

They don’t have to be long stretches. We can stop by for a half hour, an hour… Hell, I can chow down a pizza in the driveway in ten minutes and then give you privacy. We’ll take things slowly, okay?

I promise, the spotlight won’t be aimed at you the whole time. You have two Owners who will need to heal too.

(Yeah, I’ll be watching you, twins.)

I hope to whatever deity we’ll see you soon, boy.

Love,

Ash

PS: This message was approved by Nate and his degrees, but he made me promise to add that he would’ve phrased himself more patiently, more diplomatically, and probably more eloquently too. But bottom line, it’s not good to alienate yourself, so we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.

From Nathan

Sweet Shay,

My dear husband wouldn’t let me read what he’d written for you, so I can only imagine it’s very…colorful. Just like him. :) But he did tell me the gist of what he wanted to say to you, and I agree. We want to see you, River, and Reese more when you return. We want to be there for you, in whatever capacity you can handle.

I’ll let Ash handle River and Reese, and then maybe you and I can talk? I thought we did pretty well last time.

Either way, I believe in you. You know yourself. You have a good support system behind you for every dark moment.

Keep fighting, pet. Keep fighting and never give up.

Hugs,

Nathan

From Nathan

Greer left to join the rescue operation.

Soon, you’ll be with us. Hang on for a little longer, subbie.

From Ash