Dear Grandma
Hi, I think I messed up
I know you won’t be able to read this, but now one else will. I’ve been staying at Darren’s place secretly. His mother almost caught me yesterday: I had to hide in a closet. After almost a year, my Dad finally texted me. It took me having to disappear for a week for him to actually care about me.
I know you’ll be wondering why I ran away. It’s mostly because of dad. Apparently, he wasn’t always like this. Mom told me this story a long time ago. My Dad and my brother got into this huge fight, which made my brother move to Australia – Dad hasn’t been the same since.
For the first couple days, I slept on park benches. It wasn’t too boring, since I had brought my phone. Fast forward a few days and I ended up at Darren’s. That was when I realised I had forgotten my charger. Since Darren still has to go to school, and my only source of entertainment is dead, I have to spend half the day hiding from Darren’s mom.
To be honest, I wish I had stayed. I thought running away would make things easier, but I’ve only delayed the problem. One day, I’ll have to go back, and I don’t think I’m ready. Ever since we moved, I haven’t been myself. I want to shout and play like I used to, but I can’t. It’s like there’s this hand that grabs my voice and shoves it deep down down my throat. I want to face things head on, but I’m weak. I know you wanted me to be strong, but I can’t. I couldn’t live the life you wanted me to live, and now I’m wasting away in my best friend’s room.
You said you would always be proud of me, no matter what I do, but how can you be proud of me right now? I’m so weak, and one day I’ll have to face my reality. I’m sorry I couldn’t be strong, I’m sorry I ran away like a coward; I’m sorry I’ve let other people push me around. I hope you forgive me.
Love, Em
This might be the final work Room 8 does in Emily’s Backpack. In a single letter, we had to explain where Emily had been, and why she left. This letter is addressed to her Grandma, who is dead.