Dear Family

Dear Mike

Mike goes to sit on the edge of the bed, hitting the end of the envelope in the palm of his hand while swallowing slightly. True he has gotten letters before, many of them by Eleven but not one when one of his friends gave to him only to read if she died. It is hard, it is harder then Mike every imagined it would be. Him and Max didn't start off on the right foot, the relationship was rocky but at the end of the day they both became good friends, and Mike appreciated Max for being there for El. He goes to open the envelope, taking the letter out of the envelope.

Dear Mike....

Well Mike, if you are reading this then it means things didn't work out for the best as we have hoped. I honestly feel like with you I can be more casual then emotional because that is what our relationship is. I know at first we really didn't like each other, but I'm glad the relationship formed to be something better then what it started off as.

I know that you were just being protective of El and for the party, you didn't want to replace her sort of speak. I didn't understand that at first but I understand it now, and it shows me how considerate and caring you are. At first I just pictured you as the douche of the party, but now I understand that you were going through so much at the moment that I arrived. You just lost El and you didn't know where she was, you contacted her everyday and got no answer only to find out that Hopper was hiding her out the whole time.

I guess I realize now what emotions can really do to you, at first I was able to bottle them all up because in that moment they weren't as strong as the emotions are here now, but even now I bottle everything up because that is just my default thing to do. There is nothing we can do to change the past now, but I wanted to know that thank you and you are appreciated Mike.

Even after El dumped your ass you never stopped being there for her, I mean...you hid her in your basement. You may be annoying as hell but you are pretty amazing for that, amazing for loving El so much that you go into things full fledge without thinking because you know that El is worth it.
Our interactions has taught me that you won't stop at anything to protect the ones you love and will rack your brain of the best plan to come up with, you and your sister share that. I hope you do know that I do appreciate you as a friend, you have been one of my best friends during my times here in Hawkins, you El Dustin....Lucas. I'm sorry that these things couldn't be said in person, sorry it has to be through a letter. When you realize you are about to die it just seems like everything you have been wanting to say just forms perfectly inside of your head to say, but washes away whenever you are in front of the person. But it is too late for me now.

I need you to help El, she is not the type of person that is easily able to move on from things. She will need you Mike, she will need you to be there for her. And also....I need you to be there for Lucas. I honestly don't know what he's reaction will be too this, I don't know how he will act but you all have to make sure now more than ever that you all stick together and don't let yourselves draw apart. As I have been saying to everyone in these letters, I don't want to be the burden that hinders all of you from moving on. I want you all to flourish, I want you all to become something inspirational and someone you all wanted to be. Go to college go to wild parties, get drunk have hangovers, just what the normal high school kids do.

You have changed my opinion about you Mike, you made me realize that you are so much more than I thought you were. Thank you for making me see the real you and thank you for trying to be there for me after Billy, you and Dustin and Lucas.

But please...promise me that you all will stay with Lucas, always be there for him when he needs you all. There are things I regret doing and saying, I regret not...saying a lot of things. I don't know how he will take that, I need you all to continue to rally close to one another and support him and comfort him whenever he needs it. You needs have to stick together anyways.

All in all my point is just that thank you, thank you for all that you did Mike and that you continue to do. When it comes to your party you have always been a great leader and I know you will always continue to be towards them. You are good at bringing people together, continue to do that, continue to flourish and continue to thrive. We have all changed during these times, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst, let's make these times better, and always make sure that you all stick close to each other now more than ever. Please don't let my death be the downfall and the pitfall of you guys relationship, please don't let that be a reason of arguments, don't let it be anything negative. And of course, you better not cry because of this.

P.S. If you haven't told El you love her yet then tell her, because I may or may not have told her in her letter, she deserves to know that she is loved by the man she loves, by the man she FIRST loved.

Love, Max.