A/N- Something I wrote when I was supposed to be studying for my exams (I passed them with 3 As and B!).

Summary- A girl writes to the man who raped her and destroyed her senses about how he has affected her life. I think of this as Hermione/Snape but it can really be any couple as no names are mentioned.

To you who think you have beaten me,

I just wanted to say you have not. Losing my voice, my sight, my hearing, you would think I would be a cripple. I am not. I can still sing. I will learn sign language and sing with my hands. I cannot see, but I will read. Oh yes, you cannot retard my passion. I've always been good with languages; Braille is simply one more. I can still write. It has always been my skill. Now I have even more of an excuse to write whenever I want. I can communicate with anyone. See, my life is no different. I am not crippled. My friends are supportive of me. They treat me as normal. You failed.

You have not ruined my life. Because of your handiwork, I have found my life. A man came forward, a man I previously thought had no heart. He calmed me when the nightmares came. Yes, I'll admit to nightmares. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. This man has been my shield, my warrior, my heart. He has won my trust, something I never thought I could do again.

I will live. I am living. I will have a long and wonderful life. I will surpass all expectations. I will get married, have children. I will get my books published. I will go to college and get recognized, not because of my capabilities, but because I will be great. I won't settle for normal; I never have. I won't be treated as a cripple. I will be respected as a scholar, as a writer, as a musician. I will have an amazing life, full of pleasure and experiences. Nothing you have done has affected my life except for the fact that you brought me the best person I have ever met. So thank you, we will live happily ever after.

You have not beaten me. You never could, you never can. My senses I have lost, my mind I haven't. I am stronger than you. You are weak; you think raping someone and beating them almost to death is hard. You ran away! You left me to die, you coward. If you were going to take the trouble to do all that, you should be brave enough to accept that you did it. Flaunt it even! What was the point otherwise? I still would like to know how you did it, how you got rid of 3/5 of my senses. Is there a particular section of my brain you focused on? Did you know what way to hit me, keep me alive, yet kill all the neurons to my senses? Despite the fact that I am the test subject, the process intrigues me. You are sick, cruel, cowardly. I will not mourn you, whatever happens to you. After this letter, I will forget you. Your hold on me isn't that strong. I will never think of you from this day forward.

So goodbye. I just wanted to tell you I'm alive and well. I'm finishing school as valedictorian. I have my speech written; my best friend is going to read it for me. I'm going to college, one of the best schools in the country. My life was mapped out before and that map hasn't changed. I can still hear. I can still speak. I can still see. You have done nothing to me that I won't overcome and go a million miles beyond.

H