Utah

March 9th 19XX

They Were Right – Dreams Do Come True

Dear the Loving Lola,

I don’t even know where to begin with this. I’m happy that you came into my life at the time when I had almost given up. My life here is an interesting one. Going to school is very tough, but if it’s what I have to do to get a job as a Mental Health Counselor… it’s not an easy feat going to school with no knowledge of the subject. Lola, it’s tiring because – just – here it’s like “that place” – where in some cases I can’t voice my opinion. There are hurtful people around every corner, and there are sadly people in power who abuse it. There are others who were like me who can’t be found. And when they do get found, they’re dead or they’re traumatized and different.

But I would never trade the life I have now for the one I had before. It sickens me to even think about how I thought it was just that place. I was wrong; people had it bad – so much worse – over here. Some people just don’t care what others feel and what they’re going through. I always thought that there was nothing you could take away from me, but yet again I’m proving that wrong. One of my private teachers reminds me of the little girls where I was kept. The little girls were always trying to make me remember the pain I felt after being beaten. They always had smiles and always ate good food that made my mouth salivate. But I’m catching up on my education and always checking with the doctors. Are we meeting up at the same place as last time?

 with re-found happiness,

                                                                                Jela

Pennsylvania

March 20th 19XX

As We Dance Underneath the Stars

To My friend Jela,

It’s quite funny how I am very nervous and worried about you. I just hope you still don’t worry about those problems that you’re thinking of. That stuff is in the past now. You’re with different people now who have resources to help you. And when you become one of those helping others who have lived the way you did, they won’t want to see the person who is “saving” them have such thoughts. They’ll want comfort in your arms, understanding and sympathy. I am glad that you’re catching up in your education, but I’m also angered by that private teacher of yours. Find enough evidence on him, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t teach ever again. Where I am is not much different from where you are. People give me cold glares and can’t believe that I would trade my status and everything that I owned to get away from that place where I had so many troubles. People don’t understand why I did it, but if it meant that I could be free, then so be it.

One thing that I learned was how people with power and riches could have them so easily taken away from them by force or their own hand. It’s crazy – when you have so much power, connections, and money, you don’t even see the others who don’t have what you have. When I was in power, I saw the world as my house – moving freely from place to place, eating what I wanted, and buying what I wanted. Now that I’ve had that taken away from me, it doesn’t hurt me. Nothing makes me want to go back to it. Even though now I can’t eat what I want or buy what I want all the time. Jela, I’m proud to say that I am glad to have met you because I wouldn’t have known what other people felt about me or people who, like you said, abuse their power. I am very disappointed in myself to have associated with people who did that. Over time, I realized too late what they had done and managed to get away with. On that final note, the only thing I have left to say is I’m moving to Utah where you live so I can keep my eye on you. And yes, I would like to go back to that place with you. I need a break and a good nap with a friend.      

with a compassionate smile, 

                                                                              Lola