This is a writing sprint. Please excuse spelling and grammatical errors.
ive been thinking off and on all day about what to write you my dear Matthew. I can’t believe it’s been so long. I won’t bore you with the platitudes, I mean c’mon. I do however have to tell you, due to the work of so many people like your parents, the world is a much better place for gay people than the one you were pushed out of. Its funny to say that, because even though we facesd so much in the way of against us as gay people, that didn’t stop you from living your truth even then. When I heard about what happened, I was still in college. I wasn’t out to anyone yet, too afraid. I remamber how much I thought about what happened to you. Hanging there alone with only your tears to comfort your dying body. I thought so many things, such as this is what happens when you are gay and out. This is why I can’t do the same thing. And yet, such a small framed person you were but your courage and strenght to live your truth were immesurably larger. I think of you often, especially toay. How you may have celebrated marriage equality, getting married. Possible life, children. I am so sorry those things were taken away from you, Matthew.
Through your spirit, those of us alive who live through those times
***Written After Timer***
In finishing, I wanted to say how those of us alive and old enough to process what happened have, through his spirit, found our courage to continue on. We each have a coming out story, hell stories really, and Matthew Shepard was a big part of mine.