This Girl

by Colleen Hoover

  Up until today,

  When I looked at my own puzzle,

  I would see a finished piece.

  I had the edges lined,

  The corners framed,

  The center filled.

  It felt like it was complete.

  All the pieces were therespan>.

  I had everything I wanted.

  Everything I needed.

  Everything I dreamt of.

  But up until today,

  I realized I had collected all

  but one piece.

  The most vital piece.

  The piece that completes the picture.

  The piece that completes my whole life.

  I held this girl in my arms

  She wrapped her tiny fingers around mine.

  It was then that I realized

  She was the fusion.

  The glue.

  The cement that bound all my pieces together.

  The piece that seals my puzzle.

  The piece that completes my life.

  The element that makes me who I am.

  Who I was.

  Who I’ll one day be.

  You, baby girl.

  You’re my final piece.

  acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my agent, Jane Dystel. Your work ethic is inspiring and you are doing exactly what you were born to do. Without your support, advice, and honesty, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today. And to each and every person in the Dystel & Goderich offices, thank you for your constant support of the authors you represent. And a special thanks to Lauren Abramo. Thank you, gracias, dank u, merci, danke, grazie.

  I would also like to thank my editor, Johanna Castillo. You have been an absolute joy to work with and I look forward to many more years together. Thank you for constantly being so positive and supportive.

  It’s bittersweet knowing that this is the final book in the Slammed series. On one hand, I’m happy to say goodbye to Will and Lake and the gang. They deserve their happy ending. But on the other hand, I’ll miss these characters who completely changed my life. It might be a little odd to acknowledge the characters of a book, but I want to thank each and every one of them. After being inside their heads for a year and a half now, I feel like I’m saying goodbye to friends.

  And the biggest thank-you of all I’m reserving for fans of this series. Those of you who read the books. Those of you who asked for a sequel. Those of you who took the time to email me and let me know how the books touched you. Those of you who were inspired to write their own books. Those of you who have supported me and have helped spread the word, simply because you want to. This has definitely been a whirlwind of a year, but each and every one of you have kept me sane. You’ve kept me inspired and you’ve kept me motivated. It’s because of you that I am where I am today, and I’ll never forget that.

  Because of you.