Dear Marie,

I just realized you started calling yourself that in high school, like you wanted to change your identity without ever really letting it go. I don't blame you.

Most people write these and they talk about the great future awaiting them or about how to make the past easier. But I want to write to tell you how proud I am of you.

I don't need to tell you how hard things will be because you already know this. You've been expecting it your whole life. You and I will both always be aware of danger because you don't forget pain like that.

I'm just hear to tell you, you survived. I know you maybe didn't want that. You felt horrible and fatigued from every experience that came before. I understand. I was there with you when it felt so much easier to feel that pain one last time and then rest forever.

Maybe heroes and legends die that way, but not us. Warriors don't die after battle.

You don't see yourself that way yet. You will.

What you did was extraordinary.

People will try to make you silent, but by trying to silence you they simply bring out the part of us that never knows how to be quiet when people shush us. That kind of behavior only makes us louder.

You'll get to say everything you want about dad. It's going to feel so good, even though you won't get to say it to him. It feels just as good getting to say it to the people protecting him.

You're so strong now and fearless.

Right now you want to change your last name. You want to cut all ties with the man who hurt you.

But we're too petty and cunning for that. Keep the name. Rub your filthy hands all over it until you've claimed it forever. You're going to erase an entire history of bad blood by doing so.

I don't care what anyone says, I'm happy he's dead. He was never going to stop until he'd hurt all of us. You did the right thing leading him on until he left and ruined himself.

Now, you have a job. Your family has a house. The kids can experience their youth. You get to watch them have a childhood. You helped make that possible.

Nothing you do in these years will be something to regret. It will feel that way for a bit, but like always you never stay down too long.

You've got the greatest friends and the best family. Always remember those people are your choice.

Those years in high school, those choices, made this future possible. You will always be the part of me I love most dearly. I know you're broken and cruel. I know you will make morally corrupt decisions, but you made them for a better future. Be proud of that always.

Love you forever.