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Excerpt: PART ONE by Julie Kusma
Dear J,
You certainly took me by surprise, and I must say, you never did cease to amaze me. After all these years, you decide to reach out to me? I almost deleted your email when I read your name. I kicked this back and forth, whether I should reply to you, but my curiosity got the best of me.
I guess I’m flattered that ten years later, you are thinking about me. I do find it funny we both still live in our hometown. Were you aware? I always figured you would have moved on— married someone important. But I know, you didn’t marry at all. I suppose you never found anyone who measured up to your standards.
I didn’t open the invite to our class reunion when I received it last week. In fact, reading our school’s name made my stomach turn. I won’t drive by Grand Station High. I can’t. Do you understand the magnitude of what you did to me?
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Excerpt: PART TWO by Jill Yoder
Dear Jim,
I knew you would be shocked to hear from me. One of our classmates, who is in charge of the invitations, asked me if I would help contact those who hadn’t yet RSVP’d. The reunion is approaching soon, and the planning committee needs to know an approximate number of attendees. I agreed to help, and you are on the list.
The fact that I am still living in our hometown, and you’re aware of it, is a testament to human connection. I catch sight of you around town often. Why would you wonder about my marital status?
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Excerpt: PART THREE by Julie Kusma
Dear Jolyne,
I’m not sure how to begin my response or why I’m writing one, but I believe we must reach some degree of closure. I suppose a part of me wants you to acknowledge I didn’t deserve to be bullied. No one does.
An apology, a sincere one, is all I need. Instead, you continue to blame others and, well, there’s no other way to say this; you lied…
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Excerpt: PART Four by Jill Yoder
Dear Jim,
You say you don’t know why you decided to reply to my second email, and I must tell you I’m also surprised you answered. As for seeing you in town, I thought I had. It was someone else, apparently.
Yes, I did lie about helping the planning committee. I wanted the list for one reason. I wanted to see if my stepbrother, Dave, was attending. As you know, he is in our graduating class. We haven’t communicated in the past six years for reasons you are unaware of. After getting the information I needed, I skimmed and saw your name. I wrestled whether I should contact you or not. I figured reaching out to you as a necessity for both of us.
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Excerpt: PART Five by Julie Kusma
Jolyne,
Fate is funny. You weren’t sure why you reached out to me, and I wasn’t sure why I replied. Now we both understand. We needed to release ourselves from our pasts once and for all. Why do we think we know what’s going on inside of other people? How could we?
You’re right, I had no idea what you went through, and I do appreciate your candor about what transpired in your home. I believe you when you say your soul suffered. Violence in any form leaves more scars within then it ever could on the outside, and I’m glad you are getting counseling…
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