Dear Elsa,
I must have written this letter one million billion times, yet I still can't tell you how grateful I am that you've allowed me to contact you!
Today is my eighteenth birthday, and writing you is all I've wanted to do for the longest time. I've always wondered what kind of person my sister is, I hope we'll have a strong relationship one day! I hope we can make sense of the past and of what happened. If not, I guess I'll leave you be...
Anyway, let me tell you a bit about myself! As of right now, I have no plans of going to college. Wow Anna, great way to start your letter. Show your lack of ambition, why don't you? My adoptive family are wonderful, kind people, but since they've told me the truth, I've been feeling out of place. My time is well spent though. I landed a job packing groceries. Work and pictures of kittens fill the void in my heart!
On a serious note, I understand that you knew our mother. If you are willing, please share with me any details you remember about her. I don't care how minor they may be. I'd also like to learn more about you, and yes, I am aware of how depraved I sound, but please bear with me! Wow... After writing the first paragraph, the words are coming to me a lot easier! I am sure, or rather I am wishing that you also have the same struggles as I do. Since we are birds of a feather, we should help each other!
Best wishes,
Your sister, Anna
Dear Anna,
Thank you for your letter. I too hope that we can have a relationship.
I regret to hear that you have been feeling displaced. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you have adoptive siblings? I am an only child, and my parents' expectations of me are staggering. I've recently completed a four-year long college course in law, though I must admit, the subject does not interest me. I'd rather curl up and read.
Yes, I knew Idunna, though my memories of her grow more and more fragmented as I get older. She had dark brown hair. She used to read Rhode Dhal stories to me before bed. I have some good memories of her, but they are often undercut by the bad. After all, she succumbed to vice, and we both lost her. I remember when she left me at the orphanage. I knew then that would be the last time I'd see her. I went numb for a few days. When I realized what happened, I nearly shut down completely. I don't know how well I recovered, if at all.
All that aside, I would love to keep our line of communication open. And I agree. We should help each other out.
Yours Sincerely,
Elsa
Dear Elsa,
Thank you. Thank you so much for telling me your story, and for even replying to me. As much as she's screwed us both up, I'd do anything to see her, if just for a second. You told me so much, and it's only fair for me to be fully and completely honest with you in my letters.
In all honesty, I have been depressed for upwards of a year now. I had ambitions and goals. I even got a few college offers! I couldn't accept any of them when the time came. It's much easier to believe you're too dimwitted to do something rather than to focus on the opportunity you lost… It's easier to take a job you don't care about, so when you can't find the strength to rise yourself out of bed, it's not as though you're missing out on much. I always wanted to be an animator. I was so sure about wanting to make cartoons and paintings come to life! I was sure that's what I wanted to become. But when you've been fed lies all your whole life, you can't be sure of anything.
I have an adopted sister. Her name's Ariel. She's sixteen and she's spoiled beyond belief! I am a bit resentful of her, knowing that she's the biological child and I'm... well not. She seems to be perfect pretty much everything she tries, while I'm the project. The thing everyone wants to fix. She's popular... on the cheer squad. Like me, Ariel may have a few screws loose. We don't see eye to eye. She's really into hoarding her belongings. However, that's just a slight concern in the eyes of my parents. As I said, I'm the project! I can't imagine how it would feel to be alone with adopted parents... To have all their attention directed at you... Even though you're a twenty-something, I don't envy you at all.
I want to get to know you and mom. I've known your name for a while, but having read your letter, the mystery shrouding you has been lifted. Excuse my phrasing! I am glad that you have become more than a name to me. I'd love to meet you sometime, but even I'm aware that these things can't be rushed! So, you mentioned you enjoy reading. What books do you read? Are you a writer yourself?
Best wishes,
Anna
Weeks bloomed into months, and letters continued to be exchanged. Radiating warmth and respite, the neat scroll became a source of relief for the younger redheaded sister. Meanwhile, the highly personalized messages, fully complete with jell pens and drawings of popular cartoon characters, brought tenderness and glee to the elder.
Author's Note: I hope this was a wholesome and pleasant read! I wanted to explore how writing can bring people together, but as per usual, whenever I write, I do so when I'm extremely tired. This may be rife with mistakes, or may not be nearly as good as I thought. Either way, let me know!