March 29th: Happy Birthday Uncle Crane!
Dear Diary,
Today is Shushu Crane's birthday. This time I would like to do something different. I am going to write him a letter in my diary. I know that everyone wants me to talk, but it is so hard to talk about my feelings. About what happened to me. So maybe I can explain some of it in my letter to Shushu Crane. We are still in the caravan. Everyone still seems relieved that I write in this but they don't like the way I keep it secretive and almost like I'm afraid someone is going to take it. So I'm going to start my letter.
Dear Shushu Crane,
You wanted me to tell you about what happened but I can't put things into words. Maybe writing will help. I was unable to take the calligraphy set you and Guma Viper gave me. So I made myself a makeshift one and did my calligraphy on that. I drew pasted a drawing of one of them here for you. This was before I was found. It's about Spring. I like Spring. It is about new things. I was telling Naoko about all the things I like about spring. I drew this for him but also for you. You would've liked him. He was very kind. He rescued me and healed me physically and I love him.
I'm glad that you all found me. I've truly missed you. I spent every day thinking about you and every night crying. It is just hard to be strong all the time. I was treated very well at my encampment but I will not tell you the whole story of what happened to me. It is too hard to relive those moments as it is. Maybe one day I will let you read my diary and allow you to find out. But for now this is all I can do without breaking. Please understand that I am trying to heal and one day I will no longer feel the need to look over my shoulder or flinch when someone touches me. It just happens. But this is for your birthday. I hope it can help you understand. I love you.
Your niece,
Mei Xiang