A Place In This World

Without You

'Speak now or forever hold your peace', the words said by preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It's a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone's heart race, and a moment I've always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasize about bursting into a church, saying what they'd kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.

Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, that most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I've began to fear more than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.

I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say 'I love you'. When we should've said 'I'm sorry'. When we didn't stand up for ourselves or someone who needed help.

To the beautiful boy whose heart I broke in December. To my first love who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while. To a girl who stole something of mine. To someone I forgive for what he said in front of the whole world.

Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope you use yours for good, because the only words you'll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone.

What you say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you'll stutter and you'll walk away embarrassed, wincing as you play it all back in your head. But I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest.

So say it to them. Or say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you'll never send or in a book millions might read someday. I think you deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying 'I could've, but it's too late now.'

There is a time for silence. There is a time for waiting your turn. But if you know how you feel, and you so clearly know what you need to say, you'll know it.

I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now.

Part two

___________________________

Taylor's POV

I loved you since the very first day

When I caught you looking my way

I smiled and just knew it

I took a deep breath in the mirror. My eyes analyzed every bit of my body. I was wearing black skinny jeans, with a white long sleeve shirt. I was wearing my heels. I gulped. He never liked when I wore them. The bruises were gone, but I still felt them. It was like the pain of them would radiate under my skin for forever.

I grabbed my coat and zipped it up. I opened my door and walked out. I turned the lock. I put my headphones in and tuned out the world. The brisk winter air hit my face. I stuffed my hands in my pockets. I walked to Prado café where I was meeting Josh.

I was nervous. Was this the beginning of a new relationship?

The Wednesday bus rushed by me. My life used to be a big rush. But now it felt like it had stopped. My footsteps were slow. I was almost positive that he would be late. Aren't all boys careless and reckless?

I walked into the café, and was surprised. When my eyes did a quick scan of the room, Josh was there. He had arrived early and sat in our usual spot. He stood up and waved. I walked to him. He wrapped me up in a hug, and kissed my cheek. He pulled my chair out and helped me in. I smiled. That gesture alone was so nice. He would have never of done that.