Letters From A Broken Home

The Letter

Dear Paul,

You don't know who I am, and you probably never will. But, I need to tell you something and it needs to stay between us. By this, I mean please dont post anything I say to social media. You can tell your family if you wish , or even some of your friends, but dont tell anyone else. I have been suffering for a long time. On the outside I hide it all behind
A congenial personality and a perfect smile. But that is not what is on the inside. I need to know I can trust you first. Can I trust you Paul? If so write me back, soon.

Sincerely, Anonymous

Finding this in my mailbox was a little concerning.how does this person know my name? How do they know my address? I look at the back of the envelope to see a return address on the back. It says, 134 Melshire Road. Looking down more I see the location, Manila, Philippines. How does someone from the Philippines know me?
As I sit pondering all of millions of questions spiraling in my head, aloud pounding on my door shakes me put of my daze. Walking to the door, my hand pulls it open and I see my roommate, Liam.

"Why do you look hammered?" He says as he shoves past me holding a six pack of Coke and a bag of apples.He sets them on the table and then turns around throwing me a questioning look.

" It's nothing just, I got this strange letter in the mail," I mutter as my arm reaches across the table to give him the letter. He grasps the letter and starts trying to read it. After about a minute he gives it back.

" Who sent it?" He asks while leaning against the table.

"I dont know. Could it be a wrong address maybe? Or a hoax? " He gives me a look that says He's really thinking about it. He is a Profiler in training, so he is probably trying to analyze something from it.

" It doesnt seem like it. She seems like she really knows you. Her handwriting looks as if she was hesitant to write at first but then it tends to look more desperate. I think you should write back." He says with confidence.

" Why? What good would it do? I don't even know this girl. She said it herself. And she lives in the Philippines! So even if I wanted to there is no point. I couldn't even help her." Now I was slightly irritated. Why did she have to write to me.

"Sometimes having someone to talk to is the the best thing you can do to help."Glancing at him, immediately I know he is right.

So that is why I find myself sitting down to write a letter back to her.

Dear Anonymous,

Hi!, apparently you already know my name so that part we are okay with. But what is your name? You can trust me. I only told my roommate and he swore to his life he would not tell anyone.What do you mean when you say you are suffering? If you want someone to talk to you can talk to me I wont tell anyone. I hope you reply.

Sincerely, Paul

After the letter is written, I put a stamp on the corner and write my name, address,and state. Liam offers to drive me to the post office, so we ride there together.When we walk in, we are greeted and we insert the letter in the outgoing mailbox. After we leave we go straight home and lay down. Pondering what the mystery girl will reply with.