Dear Laura,
Nathanael Berends May 25th, 2006
Dear Laura,
I received your voicemail last Sunday, and you may rest assured that my heart was both appropriately warmed by your greeting, and saddened by the reality that by the time I got the message, I was already home in Michigan. I imagine that by now you might be curious about my continued silence. I haven’t extended the friendly courtesy of responding to the message for a host of reasons—chief among them, fear. I was afraid that if I were to phone you in response, I’d meet the miserable face of failure in my attempt to articulate just how much I appreciate you, Laura, and how much our relationship this year has meant to me.