Dear Anthony,
I will probably never show you this because it is too embarrassing, but, I need to write to you. I have shed so many tears thinking of you distressed, frustrated, and in pain. Do you realize how much you mean to me? You have cared for me and supported me for nineteen years and you continue to do so as I move forward with my life and you take one step back.
I will never forget the times we sat outside on the front steps talking for hours about my anxieties about going away to college. You listened to me and gave me advice as I fought back and forth between what college to attend or what major to declare.
You entertained me for hours with one little stuffed puppet dinosaur as kids. You always know how to make me laugh even though you constantly get on my nerves, like when you would play your drums really loudly and I would ask you to stop, but you just kept going and laughing at me while I screamed over the noise. Even in these times, I always felt a special connection to you, whether you knew it or not.
For six years, I have sat back and watched you grow into an inspiring, thoughtful and hard-working person. I have admired you from afar and your work ethic inspires me to put my all into the things I love. My heart ached for you as I saw you enter an abusive relationship. My heart aches for those who do not have the power or feel like they do not have the power to leave an abusive relationship. For six years, we tried to tell you that this was not a healthy relationship, and I am afraid you may never be the same Anthony I have known for the past nineteen years, again.
I heard the news last night. I talked to mom and tried to hold back tears as she told me that you had moved back home. On one hand, I was excited to know that you would be around again, that there would be many more opportunities to sit out on the front steps and talk about life with you. On the other hand, I knew that something bad had to have happened for you to pack up your things and leave your old life behind.
You have always had my back in life, now is my time to have yours. I hope I do it justice.
Love,
Victoria