Annabeth died two years ago while on a quest with Jason and Nico. They tried everything they could to save her, but it wasn't enough.

I'm still not over it.

She was my Wise Girl. She was my everything. And now she's gone.

She's gone and she's never coming back. She'll never come back.

But, even though I know Annabeth would love to have me be with her in Elysium, there's no way she'd tell me to give up.

The only reason I'm living right now is because of her hope that I can live a full life.

BUT SHE WAS MY EVERYTHING. I HAVE NOTHING LEFT.

Annabeth, why won't you come back to me? Why won't you come see me again?

There was so much I never said to you.

I never proposed. I missed my chance.

The ring I would have used to propose sits on my dresser. Diamonds that press my guilt harder against myself.

COME BACK TO ME, ANNABETH. I WANT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN. I WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I've gone two entire years without my Wise Girl. Two years. 24 months. 730 days. 17,520 hours. 1,051,200 minutes. 63,072,000 seconds.

63,072,000 seconds without Annabeth.

63,072,000 proud seconds that Annabeth was comforted with.

What if I went on that quest? I should have gone. I should have been with her. Maybe then, she would still be alive. I could have saved her.

I know it's more complicated than that. You don't need to remind me.

What if I proposed earlier?

I could have been a good father. We'd move into a house in New Rome that Annabeth designed. We could dress up in overalls, splashing paint onto each other when we put down the paint rollers. Maybe our children would have had beautiful features. Maybe our son could have Annabeth's golden hair with my eyes. And a daughter two years later, with Annabeth's beautiful stormy gray eyes and my dark hair.

I'd drive our kids to school as they bickered in the back of the minivan, and you'd be smiling in the doorway as you left for work. I'd come home from a day at the aquarium to homemade blue cookies, baked with Sally's secret recipe.

And we could have movie nights on Fridays. Or game nights, filled with competition over a game of Monopoly. Wouldn't that have been great? Is that too much to ask for?

Why did you leave me? We had such a pleasant future planned out! And when our kids both leave for college, we'd watch cooking shows and sitcoms.

And I'd dance down the aisle with our beautiful, delighted daughter. She'd kiss the person who deserves her, and they'd live happily ever after.

And when Annabeth and I grow old, we'll still be laughing in rocking chairs. We'd watch the beautiful sunsets and sunrises together. We'll tell our frighteningly amazing stories of ourselves to our grandchildren.

We'd live for infinity.

But that will never happen. Not any more.

COME BACK TO ME, ANNABETH. I LOVE YOU.

YOU WERE MY EVERYTHING.

Come back. I need you.