Dear Denise

I know you may think that no one cares anymore. I know you may question if people like you for who you are, not what you have. I know you are sad because you have basically turned away every possible person to really truly care for you: your family. I know you feel hopeless, depressed even. I know you feel alone, that the people who said they care, don't really care because they have their own lives to take care of. I know each day is long, that the joys in life have temporarily disappeared, that the love of your life simply chose to walk out on you. Don't despair. You have to get the notion out of your head that one day you will get back together, for that will only bring you sadness as you try to envision how your paths will cross again. You are now a free woman, no chains holding you back, free to express yourself in whichever way you want. Yes, you may be a little broke right now, but it's okay. In two more weeks, you'll be back on your game, making bank. And then everything will work out perfectly. Focus on your grades, you have only one year left to make it count, YOU MUST MAKE IT COUNT. These sad times are only temporarily, they will pass. You will find the strength to carry on, to make new friendships, meet many people, fall in love...in time. Believe in that. Believe in yourself, when you are skeptical about the future. Trust, love, appreciate the world and all of its beauties. Focus inward. Give back. Stop thinking about the what-ifs, and the past, they will bring no happiness to you right now. Laugh, talk, explore. You need to learn to love yourself again, and I believe you can do it. It only takes time. Those insecurities..only come from YOU, not the outside. Remember, you have EVERYTHING to gain, you are not missing out on anything. Life works in strange ways, don't you think? You've gotten over heartbreaks before. Remember C? You thought he was the love of your life, and see how long that lasted. You have risen to such great heights since you left him, and you never stopped to turn back. Yes it was painful, and took you an entire year, but you were young then. You are still young now. :) The next couple months might still be painful, but trust that one day, you will be able to look back and say it doesn't affect you anymore. You WILL BE ABLE to look back, without a sad smile on your face, you will get over it, I KNOW YOU WILL. You must. For when one door closes, another one opens and honey, you need to take that door with everything you got. Remember, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. By the end of it, you won't be lying late at night thinking about what had happen. Girl, be strong. You must. Love yourself, and the ones that mattered. Your family, Buddha, GDPT, your best friends who stuck by you in times of despair. No second thoughts, they love you. You just need to learn to love yourself again. :)