Dear S,
I've been in your life for about seven years now, and before that I didn't know you. Thing is, I can't remember a time you weren't there. I've thought about it, and I think that before I knew you, there can't have been anything worth remembering.
You know that I have problems with my head sometimes, so I can't remember what order things happened. But I remember the first time I saw you, and I thought you were a boy, and I thought, 'When I get a boyfriend for the first time, I hope he's like that boy.' I came over and said hi, and I hijacked your friends that lunchtime, and together we made that little group, R, H, you and me. We were all there together. I was there when you got the call that your little sister was born, and when she had that accident and you thought she'd be blinded, I was there too. I was there when you found out she'd be okay.
I was there when you got drunk for the first time, and you were there when I got stoned for the first time, and I was there when you first tried speed. You were there when I first kissed a boy, and I was the first girl you kissed, even though it was just a joke. I wasn't there when you took all those pills, but I tried to be, I really did. The doctors wouldn't let me see you. We were both there when R finally gave up clinging to the edge. You were there when I was grieving and you came with me when I moved on.
I was there when you announced that you'd met a guy, he was your first boyfriend, and you'd lost your virginity. I was there to listen when you couldn't tell anyone else about the time he cut you with his machete. I was there when he told you he cheated, and you were there when he raped me, and we were together when I told you I was the 'other woman'. I was there when you got the call that he ODed, and when you found out it was heroin. I'm there most of the time you two go out together, and I pretend that I've forgiven him. I only do this because I care about your feelings more than my own.
So, yes, I've been there, and we've changed so much it doesn't seem real. Do you remember when you called me the bad influence on you? Do you remember that time when we met up after I was away for the summer, and you told me, 'You've changed, but you're still the same. You're still my funny, brilliant friend, and now you're beautiful as well!'? I think you're beautiful, too. I've told you that so many times, just like I've told you I love you, over and over. I do, I do love you. I've hated your boyfriend since we were 13. Please leave him. Save yourself. He wants to hurt you.
I know you don't find me attractive- even if you are bi, like you're saying you are these days, I can tell you don't want me like I want you. That's fine, and I'm sorry for coming on to you the last time we got drunk together, that wasn't right. But I need you to be kinder to me. If I was a boy, and you knew I loved you as much as I do, you wouldn't flirt with me, you wouldn't play with my feelings. Seeing you with him hurts me, just like seeing you unhappy does. Please start eating again, you're getting too thin. Please don't try heroin ever again. Please trust me. Please don't drop out of college, and please leave your boyfriend before he hurts you in a way that won't heal.
I can't ask you to love me as much as I love you, but please, S, I need you to fall back in love with yourself. For me.
C.
(Ah, way too long, sorry guys...)