Edward Masen #15604091
Waterview State Correctional Facility
September 5, 2009
Dear Edward,
I'm so very sorry about what I said in my last letter. It was stupid of me. I should have stopped to think about how you would perceive it. Please believe that I never intended to hurt you. Forgive me?
Your profile was the first one I looked at. I started with the newest, which was yours, and worked back about a month. There are an overwhelming number of people like you. This will probably sound silly, but there was something about you that drew me in. With every other profile I read, I thought, "This guy seems nice, but it's not him." What you wrote was unassuming and honest. It sounded like you could really benefit from a friend. Like I could actually make a difference in your life. Not to mention you were educated and wrote in complete sentences, which was refreshing as well. (Does that make me judgmental? I was just thinking of my sanity.) Finally I realized it was pointless to keep looking because you were the one I wanted to write. So far I think it's worked out well. You're easy to communicate with, and I look forward to getting your letters. I always check to see if you've sent anything before I leave campus and usually don't get farther than my car before reading them. You're constantly on my mind, and I find myself wanting to know you better.
I'm glad you're thinking about your future. An old, cheap piano is a great place to start. I'm not going to say it won't be a lot of work to get to the point where you have one, but I think it will be easier than you think, especially if you accept help when people offer it. Don't turn people away because you assume to know how their time is best spent. If you do it enough times, people will stop trying.
I truly hope you meant what you said about never going back. As much as I enjoy writing you, I don't want to send these letters to a correctional institution indefinitely. I've never thought of you as a bad person, and I'm sure that won't change if you decide to give me more details about your past. I understand if you're uncomfortable talking about it, but don't dance around your past because you think I won't be able to handle it. I do want to know. I hope someday you'll tell me.
I wish you didn't feel the need to protect yourself all the time. Someday you won't have to. Until then, stay safe for me.
My mom invited me to go to Florida with her for two weeks. It's been over a year since I've seen her, and I've never been to the Sunshine State, so I'm really excited. She's a lot of fun, but I'll probably need a vacation after my vacation. At least I'll come back tan. So much for working before classes start. And don't worry about me having a job. I will always make time for you.
I'll be thinking of you,
Bella
