For Emily

No one here judges you, but we all think you would be better off trying to expand upon your experiences with us here.  And we dont think that all it hopeless, you have come out dancing with us on Raggae night, youve joined our festivities more and more often.  We all think that is great, but still, you're in Florence Italy, studying art, so take advantage!  Its fantastic that you enjoy doing your artwork, but primarily its indoors, in our apartment.  If this goes on, the only thing you'll look back on is the small weekend trips we try to attend.  

We know you dont really have a lot of control over your life back at home, and we can all sympathize, and thats precisely why we dont force you to attend things with us all.  The best we can do is invite and offer, but we wont perpetuate the cycle here in Florence.  This is a different life for all of us, and we want you to have the freedom and power that you're entitled to whilst you are here.  The LAST thing you need right now is more people telling you what you should do with your time, which is why Im writing this all down here, so I can get these thoughts out without hurting you or exerting control over you life.  

I have hight hopes for you during the second half of this semester.  You seem eager to travel more, to hang out more, and thats great.  And thats another reason I'm not telling this to you to your face, because you are getting better, so whats the point in rubbing it in when recovery is approaching?

That night you told us about your mom, I was legit sorry for bringing it up.  Frankly, I admire your courage to go on.  I would be a wreck.  Yet you paddle onward, and look where you are now!  Art in Italy.  Keep on Keeping on Emily.  You'll always have me, Scott, Jess, Rachel, and all the rest of us here in open arms for when you need us.  And even though you'll never read this, I hope you can sense it.