With all the things going on in my life, I forgot to take into account what you must face on a daily basis. You are a mature, eloquent, sophisticated, and insightful Little and do not deserve any of the threats and mockeries dangling over your head on a regular basis. I honestly don’t know how you manage to do it, and I respect you so much for it.

Please accept this apology and call me after school when you’re ready to talk about it.

Your friend (if you’ll still have me),
Janet”

I did not call Janet that afternoon. Or the next. Or the next. I tore the letter into dozens of tiny pieces and flushed them all down my classroom’s toilet.