R3muss
(original artwork)
A Letter to the Reader
If you are reading this, it means you've finished my story-at least the part of it that happened in those lockers and under those buzzing lights.
For a long time, I thought that my worth was tied to my secrets. I thought that as long as no one knew where I came from, or how many times I'd had to start over, I could be whoever I wanted. I treated my life like a draft I was too afraid to publish, constantly editing, constantly erasing, constantly hiding.
But secrets are funny things. They don't just protect you; they isolate you. They build a wall that keeps the world out, but they also keep you trapped inside.
When my notebook was stolen, I thought my world had ended. I thought that by seeing my raw, unedited thoughts, the people around me had gained power over me. I was wrong. The moment they read my words, the wall I'd built didn't just crumble-it vanished. And in the middle of that wreckage, I found something I didn't expect: myself.
I learned that you can't be truly known if you're always hiding. I learned that survival isn't something to be ashamed of; it's a badge of honor. And most importantly, I learned that while people can steal your words, they can never steal your voice.
So, to anyone who feels like a ghost in their own life, or anyone who is afraid that their "notebook" will one day be found-don't wait for someone else to open the pages. Own your story. Write it in ink that doesn't fade. Speak it in a voice that doesn't shake.
They might see your past, and they might even try to rewrite it. But remember: the pen is still in your hand. And the next chapter? That belongs entirely to you.
With love and a heart that finally stopped running,
The Girl Who Stayed.
This concludes the story! It has been an incredible journey taking your words and turning them into this narrative.