The Letter Bruce wrote Irene for Her Birthday.
You know I don’t have much money, but as soon as I do I’ll get you something more material for your birthday. In all honesty I believe you deserve the world after the hell you've been through, and it hurts not being able to give it all to you. The least I can do is make you smile, because I know just how rare being happy sometimes seems. After all the darkness you’ve been through it amazes me how resilient you are. You haven’t let it corrupt you. I know sometimes you don’t believe that, but it’s true. You’re still as perfect as the day you were born. Still just as human as you were years ago and still as innocent and strong. You haven’t been broken. You aren’t. You’re in the process of recovering, and you will recover. And then you’ll be even stronger. After all you’ve fought through I’m finding it hard to believe there’s anything out there that can break you.
Each and every scar on your body shows how strong you are. They aren’t marks of shame. Maybe they were intended to be, but that’s not how I read them. I don’t think anyone reads them as things to be ashamed of. People look at you in amazement, you know. Because you’ve fought through so much and you’re still a better person than most of them have ever been. You inspire them. I hope you understand how amazing you really are. I think you need to realise it, so that you never give up hope no matter the circumstances. There’s a darkness chasing you, but we can light a fire bright and strong enough to burn for as long as you need to keep it at bay. You’re still going through pain, but that’s nothing to be ashamed of either. “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” The fact that you can claw your way back through the pain and the darkness and the sadness time and time again is too astonishing for words. I’m not sure how much I can do, but I’ll do anything I can to keep threats away from you. Especially on this level – you should never be going/have gone through anything you have been. If you ever need someone, I’ll never be too busy or too far away. I know we may never be the same again after the things that happen to us, some things are irreparable, but I know you’ll never stray too far from who you are, or what you know is right. I look up to you, as a lot of people do, for a reason. I think after a while “you’re strong” loses its meaning. You start to wonder, “What does that even mean?” It means you’re unbreakable, and you’ve shown it. It means you’re better than your enemies in every way. It means you’re incredible, durable and sound and you’ve stood unshaken through storm after storm. You’re the most powerful and respectful person in the battlefield that life sometimes finds us in. Nothing can really expose or harm you. You’ve proved that to all of us, that you’re strong. You’re everything I just listed. You’re pretty much the definition.
There are things we lost and that were irreparably damaged during the ‘fires’ that seared in our lives – our traumas and so on. We could sit and make lists about the things we’ve lost that we’ll never catch glimpse of ever again. We could focus on the things that fell between the cracks, but I think what we still have is an even more amazing and lengthy list. The things you still have; a family that loves you (whether they would admit it or not), friends who wouldn’t be who they were without you. You have a life and a future. I’m surprised your enemies haven’t given up, Irene. You’re too strong for any of them. You have so much left, no matter what they take. They can claw and claw away at you, but you’ll always have more than they do. More things to live for, more things to smile about and so on. I bet you’re their most formidable opponent. No matter how hard they hit you, you stay unchipped. If there’s blood on the stone, it’s their own; from a backlash of an attack. They damage their selves attempting to hurt you more than they damage their actual target. They can’t beat you – so promise me you’ll never believe that they have.
You’re one of the few people in my life who have been there through most things despite any circumstances. People have been able to cheer me up after the bad times, sure, but somehow you neutralise the problem altogether. You extinguish that fire completely rather than poking it down with a stick. You’re not afraid to be blunt or offer the harsh realism, and I’m glad you can do that. Our friendship means as much to me as anything ever has. If it weren’t for you and your support, especially now, I have no idea where or who I would be. I can’t thank you enough. You’ve helped me recover more than anyone else over the years. You have an ability to provide everything that’s needed, know exactly what those things are, and do it all so naturally. That’s what it is - it’s almost like nature to you. If you ever doubt that you’re a good person, just think back to the times you’ve helped me. I’m sure you’ve helped countless other people, but even the circumstances with just me alone are enough to certify that you’re too good for words – in all senses of the word. Skilled, moral, kind. I owe you too much, and I’ll probably never be able to repay you. But I’ll try. Even the smallest favour – nothing will be too farfetched.
You will never be nothing to me. Anyone who takes you for granted is missing out on something incredible. I’ll never forget you, and no matter how far apart we could ever find ourselves in the future I’ll always be there. You’re the one truly helping me through my ‘condition’ now, and this is going to affect me for the rest of my life. Every time it happens, I’ll know that I can thank you for the times in the past everything has gone right. And I know someday it will go wrong. But even then, I know you’ll help me through that. And on top of that, you will have been the reason why the bad transformations are so few and far apart. When it goes wrong the one I see by my side motivating me to move on and fight through is you. With your support, I’ve always been able to face the world. Again, thank you ahead of time. Thank you for everything you have done, are doing, and will do. Now you’ll have it in writing just how thankful I am. There’s really no way to phrase it to put it properly. It’s hard to say what I appreciate most about you. Your humility, your sense of humour and so on. The way you understand, even. If I listed everything I’d run out of ink and paper, so I won’t try. Maybe next year (if you’re unlucky.)
There’s a bright horizon shining behind the last few brambles you need to break through. It isn’t as far away as you think. Any dreams you have, I’ll do my best to help you achieve them. I’ll go out of my way like you have countless times for the people you care about. Happiness suits you. It’ll come, don’t worry. No matter how bleak the circumstances look there is a life ahead of you. There is so much waiting ahead for you. So much happiness and love and danger, probably sadness and regret too. But it’s all there, and it’s all yours to take. And I know you’ll have a great life, because you wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope this year marks the beginning of a kind of rejuvenation. Happy birthday, Irene. Every year that goes by from now on I hope you can look back and realise your life is slowly brightening. And hey, If not, just contact me and I’ll do my best to make sure it does.
