Dear Danyel

When you look in the mirror and peer inside your soul, I pray, my dear, someday you’ll see the real you, sweet and whole, the one who has existed for so long now, not the one whose dark side once ruled over her and blotted out her sun. That tarnished image from the past is not reality. All ghosts that haunt and taunt must be dismissed. Set yourself free! You may think I don’t understand. I promise you I DO. I've kept my secret for SO long. I was so much like you— unable to forgive myself, though I had left behind that life—if you could call it life. Years later I would find, through prayer and loved ones’ nurturance, full healing. They’d be gone— those tarnished, dark reflections that held me, their helpless pawn. To hear such a confession is, I’m sure, quite a surprise. Please know my true intention is to help you realize your “mirror” should reflect the fine, strong person you now are. I found my silver lining. You will too. You’ve come SO far! Love, Grandma Fiction March 23, 2018, entered in John Lawless's Tarnished Reflections contest May 26, 2018, entered in Brian Strand's Late May 2018 Standard Contest December 24, 2018, entered in Faraz Ajmal's Secret Poetry Contest