,Y>O/AN'S ,FIR/ ,LETT] 

#aigfaigf 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN 

,TEXT 3 

,Y>O/AN'S FIR/ LETT] 

  
  

,DE> ,SOPHIA1  
  

,=GIVE ME = ADDRESS+ Y\ FAMILI>LY1 AS A FRI5D2 ,I HAVE NO WAY ( KN[+ IF Y\'RE /ILL ! P]SON ,I ONCE KNEW4 ,I CAN'T REMEMB] ! S\ND ( Y\R VOICE1 ! %APE ( Y\R FACE OR ! FEEL ( Y\R H&4 ,I VAGUELY REMEMB] ADMIR+ ! 5]GY & 9TELLIG5CE 9 SOMEONE SO Y\NG1 BUT ,I REGRET ?AT Y\ DIDN'T LEAVE A LA/+ M>K1 Y\ DIDN'T BECOME MY GUIDE 9 MY J\RNEY ?R\< HELL4 

,I W\LDN'T EV5 REMEMB] Y\R NAME IF Y\ HADN'T WRITT5 ME TWELVE YE>S AGO4 ,MY WIFE ,MIRNA MEMORIZ$ ! NAME & ADDRESS ON ! 5VELOPE BECAUSE %E ATTRIBUT$ A /RANGE P[] TO Y\R LETT]4 ,UN=TUNATELY ,I NEV] SAW ?AT LETT] & NEV] LE>N$ ITS CONT5TS4 

,P>T ( MY REASON = WRIT+ Y\ N[ IS ?AT ! ACTIVITIES ( \R OMNIPOT5T & OMNISCI5T POLICE HAVE BE5 BLOCK$4 ,LETT]S >5'T BE+ READ BY ! EAGLE-EY$ C5SORS & LETT]-WRIT]S >5'T BE+ ESCORT$ \T ( !IR HOMES BY MIDDLE-(-!-NI<T VISITORS4 ,SO ,I'M TOLD4 ,I WANT TO BELIEVE IT4 ,REBELLI\S WORDS & EV5 GE/URES >E BECOM+ FREQU5T & ,I HAV5'T SE5 OR HE>D ( ! >RE/ ( ! REBELS4 ,SOME?+ IS *ANG+ 9 ?IS CITY1 9 ! 5TIRE L&2 ,I DON'T KN[ IF ! *ANGE IS P]MAN5T4 

,?IS *ANGE IS REVIV+ MY 9T]E/ 9 MY SURR\ND+S1 9 MY FELL[ BE+S1 9 MYSELF1 9 Y\4 ,IF !RE IS NO *ANGE1 IF ?IS IS ANO!R ILLUSION1 IF ,I'M NOT WRIT+ TO ,SOPHIA BUT TO A B5EVOL5T PROTECTOR ( ! PEOPLE'S REAL 9T]E/S1 A C5SOR1 !N ,I'D RA!R BE BACK 9 PRISON ?AN 0FREE40 ,!RE'S NO JOY 9 SU* FRE$OM4 ,SU* A LIFE IS FILL$ ) DREAD & ! ONLY ONES FREE ( ?AT DREAD >E ?OSE ALREADY 9 PRISON4 ,IF ! *ANGE TAK+ PLACE >\ND ME IS AN ILLUSION OR A TRAP1 !N ,I NO LONG] C>E IF ,I'M >RE/$ AGA94 ,EV5 9 SOLIT>Y CONF9EM5T A PRISON] TORTUR$ BY DAMPNESS & RATS IS COM=T$ BY ! ?\<T ?AT O!RS SURVIV$ IT1 ?AT !Y W]5'T CRU%$ BY MOV+ WALLS OR DESC5D+ CEIL+S4 ,BUT ! POLIC$ 0FREE CITIZ50 CAN'T EV] GET RID ( ! FE> ?AT HE MAY BE DRAGG$ (F AT ANY TIME1 :]EV] HE IS1 :OEV] HE'S )2 ?AT ALL HIS FRI5D%IPS & ALL HIS PROJECTS CAN SUDD5LY 5D2 ?AT ! FRONT DOOR ( HIS H\SE CAN CRA% OP5 AT MIDNI<T2 ?AT ! CEIL+ ( HIS B$ROOM MI<T />T DESC5D+ ON HIM :ILE HE'S ASLEEP4 ,9 A CONTEXT :]E ANY WORD OR GE/URE CAN LEAD TO ! DREAD$ >RE/ !RE'S NO FRE$OM4 ,9 SU* A CONTEXT1 BE+S VIBRANT ) ! WILL TO LIVE >E TRANS=M$ 9TO BE+S = :OM DEA? IS NO WORSE ?AN A LIFE M>K$ BY ! DREAD ( DEA?4 ,! PRISONS & CAMPS DON'T CONTA9 ONLY ?OSE 9SIDE !M BUT ALSO ?OSE \TSIDE !M4 ,ALL HUMAN BE+S >E TRANS=M$ 9TO PRISON]S & PRISON GU>DS4 

,I DON'T PUT ! BLAME ON PRISON GU>DS4 ,!Y'RE ONLY WORK]S4 ,!Y'RE NOT 9ANIMATE ?+S1 CEM5T WALLS ?AT CAN NEI!R SEE NOR HE> NOR ?9K4 ,MO/ ( !M DIDN'T *OOSE !IR JOBS2 !Y 5D$ UP !RE BECAUSE !Y ?\<T !Y HAD NO O!R *OICE4 ,I'VE SP5T A TOTAL ( TWELVE YE>S 9SIDE WALLS1 BEH9D B>S & F5CES1 & ,I'VE NEV] MET A PRISON GU>D 9 :OM ,I SAW NO TRACE ( MYSELF4 ,I NEV] MET A GU>D :O HAD DREAM$ ?AT PATROLL+ A CONVICT Y>D W\LD BE ! DAILY CONT5T ( HIS LIFE4 ,V]Y FEW ( ?OSE ,I'VE MET ADMITT$ TO NEV] HAV+ DREAM$1 NEV] HAV+ IMAG9$ !MSELVES PR\D ( PROJECTS UND]TAK5 ) ONE OR SEV]AL G5U9E FRI5DS4 ,WAS \R PO9T ( DEP>TURE ! SAME1 & W]E WE AT SOME PO9T 9T]*ANGEABLE8 ,H[ MU* HAS EA* ( US CONTRIBUT$ TO :AT EA* HAS UND]GONE8 ,IF A GU>D EV] DREAM$1 WAS IT ( PRISONS & CAMPS ?AT HE DREAM$1 & WAS HE MY JAIL]-TO-BE ALREADY !N8 

,I CAN'T SAY ,I FAIL$ TO WRITE Y\ SOON] BECAUSE !RE W]E C5SORS4 ,I C\LD HAVE F\ND WAYS TO REA* Y\ )\T S5D+ A LETT] ?R\< !IR H&S4 ,I C\LD ALSO HAVE DEVIS$ SIMPLE WAYS TO CAM\FLAGE ! LETT]'S ORIG91 DE/9ATION & CONT5T & S5T IT GLID+ UNSE5 PA/ ! C5SOR'S OMNISCI5T GAZE4 

,IT'S N[ ?REE YE>S S9CE MY RELEASE4 ,DUR+ ! FIR/ TWO YE>S ,I WASN'T ABLE TO REMA9 9 ONE PLACE LONG 5\< TO WRITE A LETT]4 ,?IS IS APP>5TLY AN ILLNESS ?AT AFFECTS MANY 9DIVIDUALS RELEAS$ AFT] A LONG IMPRISONM5T4 ,:5 ! DAY ( MY RELEASE WAS SO DI/ANT ?AT ,I ?\<T ,I W\LDN'T LIVE TO EXP]I5CE IT1 ,I WAS ABLE TO =MULATE CLE> & DI/9CT IDEAS ORD]$ ) AN IMPECCABLE LOGIC4 ,9 CONV]SATIONS ) 9MATES & 9 MY IMAG9ATION ,I COMPOS$ ONE AFT] ANO!R BOOK UNVEIL+ ! 9V]T$ PRACTICE ?AT SEIZ$ A FIELD 9T5D$ = A G>D5 & BUILT A CONC5TRATION CAMP4 ,I ?\<T ALL ,I NE$$ WAS A TABLE 9 A SMALL ROOM1 A P5 & PAP] & AN OCCASIONAL MEAL2 ,I ?\<T ! IDEAS W\LD FL[ BY !MSELVES4 

,:5 ,I'D BE5 HOME = ONLY HALF AN H\R AFT] MY RELEASE ,I RU%$ \T ( ! H\SE & SP5T ! REMA9D] ( ! DAY WALK+ AIMLESSLY4 ,IT WASN'T BECAUSE ,I WANT$ TO SEE :AT HAD *ANG$ DUR+ MY EI<T-YE> ABS5CE4 ,I AVOID$ /UDY+ ! *ANGES & GAZ$ AT ! PAVEM5T4 ,I WAS TOO FAMILI> ) ! SPIRIT 9 :I* ?OSE *ANGES W]E CREAT$4 ,NOR DID ,I WANT TO SEE OR COMMUNICATE ) PEOPLE :O W]5'T CONVICTS4 ,!Y W]E ALTOGE!R UNFAMILI> TO ME1 ALMO/ A DIFF]5T TYPE ( CREATURE1 & ,I AVOID$ !M4 ,I LONG$ = ! COMRADES ,I HAD LEFT 9SIDE4 ,WE HAD %>$ 9SI<TS & H>D%IPS1 WE HAD %>$ A COMMON WORLD1 A COMMON 5EMY & COMMON HOPES4 ,I C\LD NO LONG] IMAG9E MYSELF BECOM+ A SELF-POLIC$ IMBECILE :O VOLUNT>ILY PUT AN 5D TO HIS SLEEP SO AS TO VOLUNT>ILY REA* A WORK%OP AT EI<T 9 ! MORN+ ONLY TO SP5D ! DAY VOLUNT>ILY TURN+ \T ! NUMB] ( P>TS :I* PLANN]S & MANAG]S HAD ASSIGN$ TO 0HIS0 MA*9E4 ,9 PRISON SU* IDIOCY HAD ONLY *>ACT]IZ$ NEWCOM]S2 IF !Y W]5'T QUICKLY CUR$ BY FELL[ CONVICTS1 !Y BECAME TOOLS ( ! PRISON ADM9I/RATION OR ELSE !IR /UPIDITY WAS SO ABUS$ BY SADI/IC GU>DS ?AT !Y W5T 9SANE OR DI$ ( OV]WORK4 

,= TWO YE>S AFT] MY RELEASE ,I WAS UNABLE TO EXPRESS MYSELF 9 ANY =M4 ,I WAS 0DISORI5T$0 & NE$$ TIME TO 0ADJU/ TO FRE$OM40 ,I HAD GR[N US$ TO ! R\T9E1 ! MEALS1 ! JOBS1 ! GU>DS2 ,I HAD BECOME ATTA*$ TO MY COMRADES1 TO \R CONV]SATIONS & >GUM5TS1 TO \R IMAG9>Y COMMON PROJECTS & BREA?TAK+ ESCAPES4 ,I MISS$ ALL ?AT4 ,I WAS AN EXILE1 AN ALI5 AMONG PEOPLE :OSE ACTIVITY ,I F\ND 9COMPREH5SIBLE1 :OSE LANGUAGE ,I C\LD NEI!R SPEAK NOR UND]/&1 :OSE SYMPA?Y & COMMUNICATION ,I REJECT$ BECAUSE !Y SEEM$ CONDESC5D+ & HYPOCRITICAL4 ,( C\RSE ,I UND]/OOD !N AS ,I DO N[ ?AT FACTORIES >E PRISONS1 =EM5 >E NOT UNLIKE PRISON GU>DS1 & ! ?REAT ( FIR+ OR EVICTION CAUSES AS MU* T]ROR AS ! ?REAT ( SOLIT>Y CONF9EM5T OR DEPORTATION4 ,BUT DUR+ ?OSE TWO YE>S ,I CONC5TRAT$ ON ! DIFF]5CES BETWE5 ! TWO SITUATIONS4 ,! PRISON]S ,I HAD KN[N HAD REPRESS$ WORDS & GE/URES 9 ! FACE ( A RIFLE1 BUT HAD REGA9$ !IR HUMANITY :5 ! REPRESSIVE =CE )DREW4 ,AMONG ! \TSID]S ,I BECAME AW>E ( AN ALTOGE!R DIFF]5T TYPE ( REPRESSION3 SELF-REPRESSION4 ,MY NEXT-DOOR NEI<BOR1 A ,MR4 ,N9OVO1 IS A CLEAN+ MAN 9 A B>4 ,! FIR/ TIME ,I RAN 9TO HIM ,I SMIL$ & SAID 0GOOD EV5+40 ,:5 HE FAIL$ TO RESPOND TO MY GREET+ ,I APOLOGIZ$ & SAID1 0,! EV5+ OBVI\SLY CAN'T BE GOOD = SOMEONE :O IS AB\T TO SP5D IT CLEAN+ UP AFT] DRUNK5 BUREAUCRATS40 ,HE RESPOND$ BY %\T+1 0,Y\ PEOPLE >E TR\BLE-MAK]S6 ,!Y %\LD NEV] HAVE LET Y\ \T60 ,I HAD AN URGE TO SLAP HIM1 ! SAME URGE ,I'D FELT 9 PRISON T[>D AN 9=M]4 ,BUT ,I TURN$ MY BACK TO HIM & WALK$ AWAY4 ,ACCORD+ TO ,MIRNA1 ,MR4 ,N9OVO LIKES HIS JOB1 ADMIRES ! PRESID5T & IS PR\D ( 0HIS0 C\NTRY4 ,HE 5JOYS LI/5+ TO (FICIAL PROPAG&A ON ! RADIO4 ,HE HAS SP5T HIS LIFE CLEAN+ UP ! DIRT ( ! B>'S CU/OM]S & HE'S SATISFI$ ) HIMSELF4 ,I NEV] MET ANYONE LIKE HIM 9 PRISON4 

,I WAS DRIV5 TO DESPAIR BY ! ?\<T ?AT ,MR4 ,N9OVO WAS NOT ! EXCEPTION BUT ! RULE4 ,IT SEEM$ TO ME ?AT ! LA/ HUMAN BE+S W]E DY+ 9 PRISONS & CAMPS & W\LD LEAVE NO HEIRS1 :ILE A HORRIBLE MUTATION ( ! SPECIES WAS TAK+ PLACE \TSIDE4 ,I ?\<T ( COMMITT+ SUICIDE1 OR ( F9D+ A WAY TO RETURN TO MY PRISON CELL SO AS TO LIVE \T MY DAYS AMONG COMRADES & DIE AMONG HUMAN BE+S4 

,BUT VISIONS ( HORROR >E 9V]SE ,UTOPIAS4 ,REC5TLY MY T5-YE> OLD DAU<T] ,Y>A PUT AN 5D TO MY /UPOR1 MY 0DISORI5TATION40 ,MY CONDITION BEGAN TO IMPROVE ! MOM5T %E 5T]$ ! H\SE4 ,H] MANN] EXUD$ ! PRIDE ( A DISCOV]] AT ! MOM5T ( COMPLET+ A QUE/4 ,! UNQUALIFI$ & UNA%AM$ HAPP9ESS RADIAT$ BY H] FACE WAS AN EXPRESSION ,I HADN'T SE5 9 YE>S4 ,ON ,Y>A'S *E/ WAS P9N$ A %EET ( PAP] ) ! WORDS1 0,GIVE US BACK \R TEA*]60 

0,:AT HAPP5$ TO Y\R TEA*]80 ,I ASK$4 

0,!Y TOLD US HE HAD DISAPPE>$4 ,BUT MY GIRLFRI5D ,JULIA WROTE A SIGN ?AT SAID1 ',PEOPLE CAN'T DISAPPE>2 SOME?+ HAPP5S TO !M6'0 

0,:AT HAPP5S TO !M80 ,I ASK$4 

0,! SAME ?+ ?AT HAPP5$ TO Y\4 ,HE WAS >RE/$40 

0,H[ MANY TOOK P>T 9 ?IS PROTE/80 

0,ALL ! KIDS 9 S*OOL10 ,Y>A ANSW]$ 5?USIA/ICALLY4 0,EV]YONE :ISP]$ AB\T IT ALL MORN+ & AFT] LUN* EV]YONE W5T TO ! S*OOL Y>D4 ,NOT A S+LE /UD5T W5T BACK TO CLASS40 

0,H[ DID ALL ?IS GET />T$80 ,I ASK$4 0,W]E ! O!R TEA*]S UPSET :5 HE WAS FIR$80 

0,! O!R TEA*]S ALL SEEM$ GLAD HE'D DISAPPE>$10 ,Y>A TOLD ME4 0,YE/]DAY ,I & ?REE O!RS 9 MY CLASS MADE SOME SIGNS & ?IS MORN+ WE TOLD O!R KIDS WE W]E GO+ TO WE> !M 9 ! S*OOL Y>D4 ,WE TOLD !M NOT TO LET ANY ( ! TEA*]S KN[4 ,I LOV$ HIM4 ,I CRI$ :5 HE WAS REPLAC$ BY ANO!R TEA*] :O W\LDN'T TELL US :5 HE'D COME BACK' & TOLD US HE'D DISAPPE>$4 ,LOTS ( KIDS LOV$ HIM1 & IF WE HADN'T />T$ MAK+ SIGNS1 O!R KIDS W\LD HAVE1 BECAUSE ! S*OOLY>D WAS FULL ( SIGNS40 

0,BUT :]E DID Y\ & Y\R FRI5DS LE>N H[ TO DO ?IS SORT ( ?+80 

0,Y\ MEAN DEMON/RATIONS8 ,WE'RE ALWAYS BE+ TOLD AB\T ?\S&S ( WORK]S M>*+ D[N ! /REET C>RY+ BIG SIGNS4 ,IF !Y CAN DO IT1 :Y CAN'T WE80 

0,SO Y\ ALL GA!R$ 9 ! S*OOLY>D --0 

0,IT WAS FULL ( KIDS ) SIGNS4 ,WE /OOD QUIETLY = A LONG TIME4 ,MANY KIDS W]E SC>$4 ,SOMEONE />T$ TO :ISP] ?AT WE W\LD ALL BE >RE/$4 ,ONE ( ! TEA*]S CAME \T & /OOD ) US4 ,A BOY /&+ NEXT TO H] HUGG$ H] & BUR/ \T CRY+4 ,WE KNEW WE HAD WON4 ,O!R TEA*]S JO9$ US4 ,F9ALLY ! PR9CIPAL CAME \T4 ,HE SAID \R TEA*] HAD BE5 CALL$ AWAY BY MI/AKE & ?AT HE'D BE BACK NEXT WEEK4 ,EV]YONE KNEW HE WAS LY+ AB\T IT BE+ A MI/AKE4 ,BUT NO ONE C>$4 ,KIDS />T$ SCREE*+1 WRE/L+1 HUGG+ EA* O!R & HUGG+ !IR TEA*]S4 ,SOME KIDS EV5 RAN UP TO ! PR9CIPAL & ?REW !IR >MS >\ND HIM40 

0,DO Y\ KN[ :Y Y\R TEA*] HAD BE5 >RE/$80 

0,SURE4 ,HE WANTS US TO ?9K ON \R [N & !Y DON'T1 ?AT'S :Y4 ,HE ALWAYS TOLD US ! EXPLANATIONS 9 \R BOOKS W]5'T ! ONLY EXPLANATIONS1 ?AT MANY ?+S HAVE LOTS ( DIFF]5T EXPLANATIONS & WE HAVE TO *OOSE ! ONE WE LIKE BE/40 

,WORDS >E TOO POOR TO CONVEY :AT ,I FELT :5 ,Y>A DESCRIB$ H] 0PROTE/40 ,I WAS 0CUR$40 ,9 ONE SUDD5 LEAP ,I HAD REJO9$ ! LIV+4 ,MY SPECIES HAD NOT1 AFT] ALL1 UND]GONE A MUTATION -- AT LEA/ NOT A P]MAN5T ONE4 ,SU* AN EV5T W\LD REQUIRE A F> GREAT] CATA/ROPHE ?AN ! RULE ( AN ORGANIZATION ( PRISON (FICIALS4 0,PEOPLE CAN'T DISAPPE>40 ,H[ RI<T %E IS6 ,:]EV] !RE >E PEOPLE !RE'S NEGATION1 REBELLION1 9SURRECTION4 ,:5 TW5TY-YE> OLDS REPRESS & MUTILATE !IR HUMANITY1 ! REPRESS$ HUMANITY REAPPE>S 9TACT AMONG T5-YE> OLDS4 ,I ?REW MY >MS >\ND ,Y>A & %E DANC$ ME >\ND ! ROOM4 0,FA!R1 W\LD Y\ TEA* ME DIFF]5T EXPLANATIONS ( ?+S SO ,I CAN *OOSE ! ONES ,I LIKE BE/80 %E ASK$4 

,MIRNA BUR/ \T CRY+4 ,%E HAD /OOD SPEE*LESS 9 ! CORN] ( ! ROOM DUR+ ! 5TIRE SC5E4 ,I HAD WRONGLY 9T]PRET$ H] SIL5CE AS HO/ILITY T[>D ! GIRL'S REBELLI\S ACT4 ,MIRNA RAN TO EMBRACE ,Y>A1 RE/$ H] HEAD ON ! GIRL'S %\LD] & SOBB$4 

0,DON'T BE SAD1 MOMMY40 

,MIRNA :ISP]$1 0,I'M NOT SAD4 ,I'M HAPPY = BO? ( Y\40 

,I CAN'T CONVEY TO Y\ :AT ?IS MEANT TO ME4 ,MIRNA TOO EM]G$ UNSCA!D4 ,ALL ?OSE LONG YE>S ( REPRESS$ HUMANITY W]E OV]TURN$ ) A SIMPLE GE/URE & A FEW WORDS4 

,?AT DAY ,I REGA9$ MY DESIRE TO EXPRESS MYSELF4 ,I HAVE AN URGE TO WRITE EV]Y?+ D[N4 ,YET ,I CAN'T IMAG9E :O Y\ >E N[1 :AT Y\'RE ?9K+1 :AT Y\'VE DONE1 IF Y\'RE M>RI$ & HAVE *ILDR51 OR EV5 IF Y\'RE ALIVE & WELL4 ,I HAVE NO RI<T TO BORE Y\ ) AN 9T]M9ABLE LETT] :I* Y\ MI<T REG>D AS AN UNWANT$ 9T]V5TION BY A COMPLETE /RANG]4 ,Y\ DID S5D ME A LETT] ONCE1 BUT NOT HAV+ SE5 IT ,I CAN'T ASSUME IT CONTA9$ ANY?+ MORE ?AN A DELAY$ ,*RI/MAS GREET+4 ,BUT Y\ DID WRITE SOME?+1 Y\ DID 9ITIATE SOME SORT ( CORRESPOND5CE1 & ,I'M TRY+ TO WRITE Y\ AN ANSW] & TO EXPLA9 :Y ,I C\LDN'T WRITE SOON]4 ,I WANT TO TELL Y\ AB\T MYSELF & ,I LONG TO LE>N AB\T Y\4 ,MY DAU<T]'S BRAVE ACT R5EW$ MY 9T]E/ 9 LIV+ & 9T5SIFI$ MY CURIOSITY4 ,S9CE ?AT DAY ,I'VE LE>N$ ?AT ,Y>A'S DEMON/RATION WAS NEI!R EXCEPTIONAL NOR ORIG9AL4 ,PROTE/S AGA9/ DISMISSALS & >RE/S ( TEA*]S HAVE REC5TLY BECOME FREQU5T EV5TS 9 ! S*OOLS4 ,& ! PROTE/S >5'T LIMIT$ TO /UD5TS4 ,FULL-FL$G$ /RIKES COMPLETE ) /RIKE COMMITTEES1 BULLET9S & SUPPORT GR\PS >E TAK+ PLACE 9 SOME L>GE FACTORIES4 ,UNTIL REC5TLY EV]YONE KNEW AB\T !SE EV5TS YET EV]YONE D5I$ !M4 ,(FICIALLY !Y W]5'T TAK+ PLACE4 ,EV]YDAY LANGUAGE -- A LANGUAGE IMPOV]I%$ BY (FICIAL LIES -- HAD = TW5TY YE>S CEAS$ TO BE AN 9/RUM5T = COMMUNICAT+ AB\T REAL EV5TS4 ,:5 ,I FIR/ RETURN$ FROM PRISON ,MIRNA WAS AFRAID ,I W\LD EX]T A DEMONIC 9FLU5CE ON ,Y>A4 ,%E W>N$ ! *ILD DAILY3 0,DON'T />T ANY?+2 DON'T GET 9TO TR\BLE40 ,TR\BLE C\LD ONLY LEAD TO IMPRISONM5T4 ,BUT ,Y>A BEGAN TO EXP]I5CE 0TR\BLE0 AS SOME?+ POSITIVE3 TR\BLE MEANT PROTE/S1 DEMON/RATIONS & /RIKES1 IT MEANT 9DIVIDUAL & COLLECTIVE ACTS ( DEFIANCE4 ,TR\BLE REF]R$ TO ! H]OIC DE$S ( 9DIVIDUALS & GR\PS PRAIS$ 9 H] S*OOLBOOKS4 ,I WAS UNAW>E ( ,Y>A'S GR[+ DEFIANCE UNTIL ! DAY ( H] DEMON/RATION1 JU/ AS ,I FAIL$ TO NOTICE ! GRUMBL+ 9 ! %OPS & ON ! /REETS1 ! FACIAL EXPRESSIONS 9 ! TRAMS & BUSSES1 ! DEFIANT GE/URES 9 B>S1 ! SLOGANS 9 TOILETS1 ! %\TS 9 ! NI<T4 

,Y>A HELP$ ME BEG9 TO SEE & HE> ! RETURN ( ! REPRESS$1 & N[ ,I YE>N TO SEE YET FUR!R & HE> YET MORE4 ,I />T$ ?IS LETT] SEV]AL WEEKS AGO BUT CONV9C$ MYSELF IT W\LD NEV] REA* Y\ & AB&ON$ IT TWICE4 ,MY CURIOSITY DEFEAT$ MY D\BTS4 ,I LONG TO KN[ :Y Y\ WROTE ME & :AT Y\ SAID TO ME TWELVE YE>S AGO4 ,I LONG TO KN[ :O Y\ >E1 :AT Y\'VE DONE1 ) :OM1 :Y4 ,= MON?S AFT] MY RELEASE ,I WANT$ TO ESCAPE FROM ?IS CITY & RETURN TO ! F9ITE WORLD 5CLOS$ BY PRISON WALLS4 ,N[ ,I F9D ! CITY ITSELF AN 5CLOSURE & ,I'M REA*+ \T TO Y\ TO HELP ME SEE & FEEL A L>G] WORLD1 IF ONLY ?R\< A LETT]4 

,IF Y\R ONLY CONNECTION ) ! ,SOPHIA ,I ONCE KNEW IS Y\R NAME1 !N PLEASE LET ME ASK Y\ TO DO A SMALL FAVOR = A FELL[ HUMAN BE+ :O HAS NOT F>$ WELL 9 ?IS BIZ>RE WORLD3 PLEASE LET ME KN[ ?AT Y\ RECEIV$ ?IS LETT]4 ,I CAN'T HIDE ! IMPATI5CE ) :I* ,I WAIT = Y\R ANSW]4  
  

,Y>O/AN4  

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aige 3 ,Y>O/AN'S ,FIR/ ,LETT] -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,APRIL #b#f1 #bb 3 ,Y>O/AN'S ,FIR/ ,LETT] -- ,ADD$4 

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