Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans

Love Letters

The Third Letter: Childhood Memories

Robin—

When I said you could ask me your questions, I assumed they'd be about Starfire… but since you asked, I suppose I'll oblige you with an answer. You asked me why I seem so fond of darkness. Well, to tell you the truth, I wasn't always so fond of it.

When I was seven, I was left out in the dark for a very long time. Someone at some point must have thought that this was in some way therapeutic. I was having difficulty controlling my emotions, and apparently the working theory of the time was that a little seclusion would snap me out of that.

So, at seven, even though I had the typical childhood fear of the dark, I was left alone in a dark room for what seemed like a week but was probably closer to a day or two.

The first few hours nearly drove me insane. I was terrified. But then, gradually, I came to realize that nothing had hurt me, nothing was going to hurt me. Outside, in the light, were people who could scold me and punish me; the darkness was like a sheltering comfort.

It was then that I discovered I could hide.

When they came for me, expecting to release a grateful child, they found an empty room. When they searched the shadows, they found no trace of me.

Ever since then, darkness has been my ally, my friend. More than any other human being; it has never turned on me. I suppose that might not make sense, but that's the best I can say.

Please don't think that I expect sympathy from this. I've thought a hundred times about not sending you this letter, but each time I go to tear it up, I feel like I'd be destroying my one chance of telling someone the truth.

—Raven