Dear Francesca,

I feel contained and emptied at the same time. Contained in that I have isolated myself from others. Contained by the walls of my home, lived in alone. Contained in that I shelter so many unspoken thoughts. Contained in that my world is myself, my health concerns.

Emptied in that I have lost parts of myself. My physical health is in a tumult. Depression hazes some part of most days, so that even when I am pain free physically, I still feel hollowed inside instead of feeling grateful. Emptied of ways I did define myself, emptied of old habits given up for the sake of health.

These words are my scaffolding to recreate myself. I must share them with someone to know that they are real, that they exist outside of my mind or pages only I will see. I trust you, Franney, to hold these words for me.

Yours,
Hannah Iona