I realized that I've excluded the other sailors, but too much time has passed within the story to have them waltzing in like they and Serena are best friends since best friends would have been there for each other from the beginning. So each sailor (most likely just the Inner Sailors) will probably show up for just a chapter or two to have their time and impacting moments with Serena. Other than that, this story has reached one hundred fifty reviews! Thank you all so much! Glad you're enjoying these letters and my interpretation of Serena's character. A lot of you are getting spot on with what I try to accomplish in my writing!

maraudergirl2010 - I haven't read Dear Daddy Long Legs, but it definitely seems like an interesting read or something to see on stage. Thanks for your feedback! :)

Sorry for not updating routinely anymore...

Dear Stranger,

I had a new roommate, but she only stayed the night to make sure her burns were healing. She's really pretty, but she was trying to flirt with Darien who, of course, remained strictly professional and oblivious to her advances. He's too into the-element-from-the-periodic-table. Her name is making school infiltrate my bubble of no-homework-ness and chemo and misery. Anywho, her name is Raye and she's a priestess at a shrine her family has owned for generations.

She's also really creepy.

After the doctors and nurses were done doing their thing, she turned her head ever so slowly like those possessed people you see in movies and told me, "I sense a lot of negativity in you. I can help you."

Then she climbed onto my bed, sitting on the other end and she introduced herself to me and forced me to shake hands with her, which was weird because her hands were entirely encased with bandages. She's so pushy. After that, she opened up her bag, took out like a million candles, lit them, and placed them all around us. I'm pretty sure this kind of stuff isn't allowed in a hospital. She also opened a container of red paint kind of stuff and made symbols all over my bald head and face, and she put one over my heart (which was a really awkward moment for me but she acted completely normal). Finally, she grabbed each of my hands in hers and told me to close my eyes and to breathe deeply.

I don't know why I let her do all that, but something about her made me trust her.

And then she began to sing, her voice low and rhythmic, in another language. I fell asleep.

When I woke up this morning, Raye was gone. The paint and candles were gone. The pressure in my body was gone. For the first time in a long while, I felt weightless, so I let myself smile as the morning sun shone through the curtains.

Feeling like myself again,

Serena