December 24th: Everyone?

Dear Diary,

Little friend, I had some visitors. I was underneath my bed when I heard a knock at my door. Giving a murmur to allow them to open, I saw that it was Naomi and Bingwen. I pushed myself closer to the back wall. "Mama?" I heard Naomi call. Bingwen sat on the ground and motioned for Naomi to do the same. I watched as they sat down and peered under the bed. I shook slightly and whimpered. Bingwen reached under the bed and grabbed my paw. "Mei Xiang, please come out. Everyone is here to see you." I looked at our entwined paws and slowly scooted out of the bed.

"Ev-every-everyone?" I whispered poking my head out of the bed to peer suspiciously at them. "You're telling me the truth?"

Naomi looked at the both of us with tear-filled eyes and nodded. "Yes, Ma. No tricks. So come on out and see everyone." I looked at them both for a long minute before deciding that it was safe to do so. Bingwen wrapped a blanket around me and Naomi went ahead to warn everyone that I'm not quite ready for people to touch and crowd me. When we entered the room, I ducked my head and kept my eyes on the floor. Bingwen gave a comforting noise and led me over to a corner. I heard everyone murmuring and I glanced up and saw each child that I held dear to my heart. Po walked over and crouched in front of me. "Mei Xiang?" I looked up at him and swiftly averted my eyes.

"Y-yes?" I trembled. He touched my face with one paw and I clenched my jaw to keep from flinching.

"Are you okay with everyone being here?" I nodded. He sighed and stood and looked over at Viper and Shifu. They glanced at him and shrugged before returning to their conversations. I returned my cursory glances at everyone. Before long, I felt chubby arms wrap around me. My body stiffened on instinct and I heard a soft "Ma.

Tigress rushed over at the sign of my distress and picked up the child. "No, no Wolfess."

I raised my eyes and caught a sight of her. She has grown and I've missed so much. I curled in on myself and buried my head in my paws. "I've missed so much!" I wailed quietly to no one.

Guma Viper slithered next to me and softly called my attention. "Mei Xiang? Breathe remember?" I nodded and breathed to the exercises that Shushu Mantis had created for me. Feeling myself calm down, I took another big gulp of air. Unraveling from the fetal position, I rose to my paws and leaned against the wall with my arms clutching me.

Waipo Shifu noticed me and walked over. "Mei Xiang." I looked down at him and nodded acknowledgment. "Are you wanting to say anything? Is there something you need?" I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times before getting the courage to speak.

"I want everyone to read my diary. It is time to know what I went through." I rasped. Shifu nodded and grabbed my paw to lead me to the front of the room. I shivered and felt like I was going to faint.

"I need everyone's attention," Shifu said. He waited a few moments as people were still talking. "Shut up!" Everyone fell silent and looked at us. "Mei Xiang wants us to read her diary and hear her words and thoughts. She'll be retiring to her room during this process so that she won't have a relapse."

Guma Viper gently lead me away and I handed her my diary. "Guma, I want you to read it," I whispered as I crawled back underneath my bed. She nodded and wordlessly closed the door. A few minutes later I could hear her voice reading each word I put down in you, dear friend.

I just hope that they can now finally understand.