Dear Parvati, January 1 2000

It's the New Year. The first day of a new millennia. That was exciting I guess, but it just felt like another day to me. But I guess that a new millennia doesn't happen every year, so I did celebrate, even if it was just a little bit.

Our parents held a party for our friends and family at our house, so it was rather crowded. You know me, I don't really like crowds, and it wasn't until after one in the morning that I managed to escape upstairs. I'll talk with our cousins in the morning, when it's less noisy, and I wouldn't mind not seeing some of our more distant relatives at all.

I suppose that you want to know how Me and Mark worked out? Well, we dated for a month, but in the end we decided that it couldn't work out and ended it. I guess that most 19 year old girls would be sad if there boyfriend broke up with them, but compared to losing you, it doesn't seem very sad.

I'm writing this in your room. Mine has a few of those said cousins sleeping in it, and I didn't want to keep them awake. Mom wouldn't let anyone sleep in your room. She didn't say why, but I know: as long as your room's here she can pretend like you never left when she sees it.

Your room is exactly like you left it. The bed's still in red sheets and the shelves are still full of your things. I can still see the old bear I got you when we were only five years old, and even it looks exactly the same.

The room might look the same, but it's different. Everything is where should be, and mom has kept it clean. But at the same time, it's not the same room. It's missing your smell. When I walk in, it doesn't smell like you, or any of the perfume that you wore, it just smells empty.

I can still hear movement downstairs. It's probably just mom and dad cleaning up, or maybe it's just them talking. I know that they still worry about me, and that they still miss you. They were much worse when you first left though, now it's clear that they miss you, but it's no longer paralyzing them.

This was the first time that I had seen a lot of our relatives for several years, and they all said that the missed you. I doubt that they can miss you as much as I do, but the thought was still nice.

Love,

Padma