You’ll probably never read this letter or even come close to knowing anything I’m about to write. You’ll most likely never meet the real me, the me I’ve hidden from so many including you or the me I’ve grown into. And I don’t know when I’ll ever see you again, but I really hope I do soon, or at least once more. I know I was just another classmate and friend of your son; just another student in the reading group you volunteered to help with each week. But I’ve always wanted you to know how much I respected you and most of all, loved you. You made me feel like I was a human being after so many years in which I believed I was nothing but trash. You made me feel safe, unique, and alive again after so many years. You treated me like a lady and as corny as it sounds, you made me feel like a true renaissance queen. You were the very first man I learned to trust after so many traumatic years. And when I look back on it, I realize we couldn’t have met at a more crucial time. I had just moved away from my personal hell into what felt like a whole new and unknown hell. I had no idea what was worse, and I still remember choking inside on my own self-hate. But when I met you, you made me feel like a regular 9 year old. And I’ll probably never be able to tell you how much that meant to me. But it meant the world to me. I loved the days you came into class to lead our reading group. And I loved talking about renaissance fairs with you. I LOVED every minute of it. And whenever I feel like a horrible piece of trash, I remember the time I spent with you and how I was always your Renaissance Lady. So thank you for giving me the time of day and helping me laugh again. Thank you for all the days you brought a smile to my face and treated me like the queen of the Renaissance. Thank you for putting up with the silly antics and whims of a lonely and insecure 4th grader. Thank you for giving me hope. And most of all, Thank you for being my wonderful Sir Knight in Shining Armor.

Love, Lady H