Space Between

Letter 2: October 5, 2005

Dear Friend,

It's been a few weeks since I last wrote, and I feel like I've been on a rollercoaster. School is still overwhelming, but I'm starting to find my footing. Mia, Jake, and Lila have become my little crew. We sit together at lunch, and it's starting to feel like home.

Last week, Mia invited me to a concert. I was so nervous; I almost said no. But something inside me pushed me to go. It was at a small venue downtown, and the energy in the room was electric. The band was called The Echoes, and they played music that made my heart race. I could feel the bass thumping in my chest, and for the first time in a long time, I felt alive.

Mia danced like nobody was watching, and I couldn't help but join her. We laughed and sang along, and in that moment, I forgot about everything else—the anxiety, the loneliness, the pressure to fit in. I felt free.

After the concert, we went to a diner nearby. We shared fries and milkshakes, and the conversation flowed easily. Jake told us about his dreams of becoming a musician, while Lila shared her passion for photography. I felt a pang of envy; they seemed so sure of themselves, while I was still trying to figure out who I was.

But then Mia turned to me, her eyes sparkling. "What about you, Gracie? What do you want to do?"

I stammered for a moment, caught off guard by the question. I had never really thought about it. I mean, I had dreams, but they felt so far away, like stars I could see but never reach. "I don't know," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I like writing, I guess. But I'm not sure if I'm any good at it."

Mia smiled encouragingly. "You should write! Everyone has a story to tell. You just have to find yours."

Her words lingered in my mind long after we left the diner. Maybe I could write about my experiences, about the people I was meeting, about the music that made me feel alive. I decided then and there that I would start keeping a journal, a place to pour out my thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.