Nina

Dear Annie,
I'm sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am. Whatever George says, it's all my fault. If I hadn't left in the first place- or at least if I'd kept my stupidity to myself, Kemp wouldn't have tricked you, he wouldn't have forced you to go, and you'd still be here.

When I came back, you gave me the warmest, most genuine welcome I could have asked for. I was shocked, amazed- I'd been expecting cold stares from everyone, but not you- no, you let me in, made me feel welcome again. I didn't deserve anything- I was there to introduce you and George to the man who would be responsible for your...what do I call it? Departure? Death? I'm going to stick with death, because, no matter what state your body may have been in, you were truly, beautifully alive.

When I found out about George- what he was, and, consequentially, what I'd become, I felt completely lost, finding out that Werewolves, Vampires- creatures that hadn't crossed my mind for years- were real. And George was so distant, I felt completely alone. I had nobody to turn to- but you helped me.
The more confusing the world around me became, the simpler you were; the more hostile, the colder it grew, the warmer and more welcoming you were; for every tear I shed, you gave me a smile. And how much of it did I deserve? None of it. Yes- you were a ghost, something I'd never believed could exist, but there was more to you; your invisibility, your physical state was confusing to me, but it was who you were, not what you were, that amazed me the most. I'd never believed that anyone was truly, genuinely good- that we all had a bad side somewhere. You proved me wrong. Yes, you were a spirit- something supernatural- but, more than that, you were supernaturally, fundamentally good.

Your story is amazing. After what happened to you...it would only be normal for someone to become bitter, hateful, guarded for the rest of eternity- to refuse to love, to cherish anyone ever again- but it seemed to do the opposite to you; you were as warm, as loving, and as loved as anyone could ever be.

I would say 'love' or 'yours sincerely', but there's nothing I can say- there's nothing I have the right to say to you- other than that I'm terribly, genuinely, unbearably sorry for what I did, and that the world is a far colder and more hostile place without you,
Nina