Another Letter to Lakshmi

Dear Lakshmi,

I understand your fear. I understand that you have lost most of your hope and that your tattered skirt and the shawl you gave away to Harish were all you had left from Nepal. But, don't lose all hope. Don't give up, Lakshmi. If you keep trying, you can escape. Don't be afraid of the Americans and of Mumtaz and of the outside world. Trust the Americans. You are not a fool for counting the days until he returned. You are not a fool for being hopeful. This...this horror that you're faced to absorb and face, it isn't the norm and it isn't true. Being scared is okay. Don't be afraid to defy Mumtaz. Don't be wary and hesitant if you have the opportunity to escape. You can do this, Lakshmi. I believe in you. If you return to Nepal, it's okay to break down in tears. Everyone deserves a break. You deserve a million. In the end, I know everything will be okay. Hold on to that hope of finding Gita, and that hope that Shahanna is okay, and that hope that Monica could meet her baby. Keep that hope as strong as the fireworks in the Coca-Cola you sipped, and as strong as the water buffalos pushing through the streets. For I have hope in you, Lakshmi.

Sincerely, Rosie Hendricks

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