Dear E,
I know, that as an eighth-grader, you feel like a rockstar each time the eighteen-year-old college freshman texts you. I know the stories he’s told you to suck you in, how his mom is so sick and how he’s carrying the burden of the world on his shoulders. I know he talks to you about music and makes you feel like he understands you. I know you want Hillary and I to back the hell off and let you do your own thing.
But E? We love you, and we care about you. He started reeling you in when you were just thirteen, barely a teenager. We know him- I know him. He lives in my town, this small little community where there are no secrets. I know his past, his conquests, his friends, his enemies. And I can tell you right now, he’s up to no good. When my older skater sisters warned me about Jesse, to be careful, I didn’t listen. I told them to fuck off, they didn’t know what they were talking about, to just leave me alone. I stand by my decision only because I believe you have to make mistakes in order to learn. The difference between you and me, though, is that I was seventeen, out of high school. You’re still our baby, the one for whom we’d kill.
This boy, he thinks you’re cute. He tiptoed around when he was with Hillary to avoid anyone noticing that he was talking to someone as young as you. There are rumors that he has ‘pictures’ of you, and I swear on my mother’s grave, if that’s true, there won’t be anything holding me back. In case you didn’t know, those kinds of pictures are illegal in our state for anyone, for any reason, under the age of eighteen. He’s prepping you for more. I know you have a good head on your shoulders… but what about when someone you think is a friend, really cares about you, tries something? Will you say no? Do you have it in you? I never want you to have to make that choice, be in that situation, at this age.
I’m not mad at you; WE aren’t mad at you. I am furious with him, but I’m not angry with you, I promise. Yeah, I ‘had’ him first, but only for a nanosecond. Hillary’s slightly more upset, simply because she feels betrayed, but she still loves you too. Listen to me, hon- I’m going to sort this out. I will not allow him to continue talking to you, no matter how angry this makes you. If he doesn’t follow our rules, there will be consequences for him. This town doesn’t settle for assholes or pedophiles. And I will fix things between you and Hillary.
I love you, dollface. I hope this isn’t the reason we haven’t talked in a few months, because you were afraid of me. There are some things I get upset about, but in this case, I’m not upset with you in the slightest.
<3
