We’ve come so far I hope you’re proud. I finally am. I’m writing to say you can let me go. I wondered why I was so sad, angry, and mad all the time. I realized I was allowing you to keep my defenses up, from what we’ve been through. I know you’re protecting me but now I need to protect you. It’s time for me to return to my happy, child-like self, my dreams, my goals, my hopes, and all the things little girls think of. The things you were robbed of. It’s time for big Ashley to protect you now. So I’m writing to tell you, you can let me go. We were not helpless, we were not lonely, people do like us, we do have real friends, we do have genuine love, and I can protect us now. So Dear little Ashley, you are now free. We’re finally happy and we’re healed. We love life. We live life. We’re as strong as can be. It’s time to let me go. It’s time to be free. It’s time to get together and be authentically me.