I sit on the metal bench in one corner of the corridor. In a corner of the school hallway, the sun is obstructed by massive walls painted light blue, making the alley darker and less appealing to every kid on the second level. Wearing my grade twelve student uniform, consisting of an A-line royal blue skirt with box pleats that reach the knees, white long sleeves, a necktie, and a vest in the same color as the skirt. I dip into my pocket and pull out the paper that Alivia has requested I read alone.
My Letter to You
"I want you to be better. No, that's not it. I want you to fix yourself so you can feel better and be proud of who you are. It isn't easy; it's incredibly difficult. There will be times when you don't want to change because just as you're starting, you stumble. I'm telling you, love yourself as much as we love you. That's exactly what I want to happen. We love you, but that's not enough to fix you. I love you, and I want you to know that we will wait for you until the end.
Do you remember what you told me: 'Life is like a track and field race where there is a finish line we cannot see, but we keep running to reach it. Sometimes we get tired and almost give up, but remember, we are there in the bleachers to watch, cheer for you, and help you. But only you can help yourself. You said life is a race, but we each have different flags to capture. The difference is, there is no set time to finish, so it's not about speed.' Take as much time as you need. Take it all if you want.
I want the best for you, even if letting you go is part of that. But I know in my heart you will always come back and we will never be gone. We'll be waiting for you..."
- Alivia
---