It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

I unfold the note and trace the little open heart he drew at the top left-hand
corner of the first page. I’m already smiling as I begin to read.
Dear Lily,
I don’t know if you’re aware of the date, but we have officially been
dating for half of an entire year. Do people celebrate half-year
anniversaries? I would have gotten you flowers, but I don’t like to make
the florist work too hard.
I decided to give you this note, instead.
They say there are two sides to every story, and I’ve read a couple
of stories of yours that, even though they happened the way you said
they did, I had an entirely different experience.
You kind of brushed over this moment in your journals, even though
I know it meant enough for you to get a tattoo. But I’m not sure you’re
aware of how much that moment meant to me.
You say our first kiss happened on your bed, but that’s not the one I
count as our first kiss. Our first kiss happened on a Monday in the
middle of the day.
It was that time I got sick and you took care of me. You noticed I
was ill as soon as I crawled through your window. I remember you
taking immediate action. You gave me medicine, water, and blankets,
and forced me to sleep on your bed.
I don’t remember ever being sicker than that in my entire life. I do
believe you witnessed the most awful day I’ve ever lived through. And
I’ve lived through some awful days. But when you’re in it, there seems
to be nothing worse in the moment than a horrible stomach bug.
I don’t remember a lot of that night. I remember your hands, though.
Your hands were always near me, either checking my temperature or
wiping my face with a rag or holding my shoulders steady while I
repeatedly had to fold over the side of your bed throughout the night.
That’s what I remember: your hands. You had a light pink polish on,
I even remember the name of the color because I had been with you
when you painted your nails. It was called Surprise Lily and you told
me you picked it because of the name.
I could barely open my eyes, but every time I did, there they were,
your slender helping hands with your Surprise Lily fingernails, holding