To the families of a Newtown, CT

You have no idea how many times I have re-written this letter because I wanted every single one of them to come out perfect. Then I realized how you wouldn’t want people sending you written letters that sound as if they meant nothing at all. Which is why I hope this letter does not make you feel that way.

The day I heard of the news I received a phone call from my Mom crying telling me what had happened, and telling me to please be safe in school. After that I couldn’t imagine how badly you wanted to call your children and tell them to be safe and that you love them. Many of you may be telling yourselves that you could have done something and you could have saved your child’s life from the nightmare they were living and hearing the sound of their voices saying “Thank you for being my hero.”

I remember coming home from school and people calling about the news and the only things that went through my head was why would anybody do something like this, and what could the parents reaction to all this be. On that same day I changed in that I shouldn’t take my life for granted and spend my whole life doing nothing, because in the very next minute we don’t know how we will affect this world and make a change in somebody else’s life. Ever since I was little I loved to write. I would right pages and pages of stories and make believe worlds where I can write anything and make everything the way I want it to be. This entire situation made me realize how I shouldn’t take my love of writing for granted.

I wanted to let you all know that my family is always praying for you and the fallen. They pray for those of you who have lost someone you held close to your heart like maybe a teacher, friend, son, or daughter, or lost your child’s hope in safety. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to send your kids off to school every morning, or a teacher arriving to school hoping that if anything goes wrong he or she will have the ability to protect his or her students.

I can’t tell you that life will get better because no one knows what the future holds, but what I can tell you is that you will get through this because I have faith that you will move on from this, but I know that you will always have your loved ones in your mind and a heavy heart. I wish every single one of you the very best.

Love,
Beatriz Perez