Dear High School

October

October 3, 2015

Dear High School,

I went out with Laura today. We went to the park and sat by the creek. Laura skipped stones and smoked cigarettes and I took one she offered it. The cigarettes were gross but I smoked three. We sat for three hours and I listened to Laura talk about how far the creek went and how she planned to follow it to its source someday.

I leaned against Laura, listening to her ramble, when she put her arm around me. I looked up at her and she looked down at me and that was when she kissed me.

Sincerely,

Jo

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October 10, 2015

Dear High School,

I'm dating Laura now. I don't know when it happened or how it happened but she kissed me and she makes me happy and she makes the pain go away. The whole school knows and they judge us. Only Ty and Joe are happy for us and Joe was the only one who is genuinely happy for both of us. I think Ty is just happy I've decided to rejoin society.

I still miss my sister everyday but it gets easier to pretend that she is just on a vacation. I'm not anywhere close to recovered and I'll always grieve for her but it's getting easier to live again.

Sincerely,

Jo

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October 13, 2015

Dear High School,

Ty and Stoner Joe are trying to distract me from everything with Halloween. They want the four of us to dress-up as the gang from Scooby-Doo. Laura thinks it will be cute and I agreed to do it. I'm going to be Velma.

I haven't told my parents about Laura and I yet because I'm not sure how they will react. My dad gets angry about everything these days and my mother isn't even aware most of the time. She just sits and stares at the wall for hours.

Sincerely,

Jo

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October 15, 2015

Dear High School,

There is a dance at school on Halloween and Laura bought us tickets. I think that's when I'll tell my parents. We are working on costumes tonight so I have to go but I'll write again tomorrow. It helps

Sincerely,

Jo

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October 16, 2015

Dear High School,

Today wasn't a good day.  I meant to introduce Laura to my parents on Halloween but it came out today. Laura drove me home today because it's the Friday before Fall Break and she didn't have anything else to do. I didn't know my dad was home and I thought my mom would be asleep. Laura and I got out of the car and Laura walked me to the foot of the porch steps.

That was when she kissed me. I kissed her back and wrapped my arms around her. I stood up on my toes to reach her better. Her arm was around my waist and her hand was in my hair. She was all that mattered in the world in that moment. I heard a door open and close but I ignored it. When I finally let go, I turned and saw my parents standing by the door, mouths open.