FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR (Inglés Avanzado. 2º Bachillerato)

 

Dear strong woman:

    I don’t know your name. I don’t know your age. I don’t know where you are from. I only know you are a strong woman, and that is the only thing I need to know.

    One of the most wonderful films of all times is called “Life is Beautiful” but it is actually one of the saddest films I have ever seen, despite its title. What I am trying to say with this example is that, even though life is always expected to be beautiful, some experiences can be extremely hard, experiences as the one you have lived.

    You need to know that everything has an end, nice situations but also the bad ones. Saying bye to the last ones is one of the most difficult tasks in the world but, believe me, they always end. You have to be so strong during the way because it is, unfortunately, so painful. I know that sometimes it is nearly impossible to find reasons to continue fighting but there is actually a vast amount of them. You should try to spend time with your friends and your family, you can’t forget that they love you and they will always be there for you. Talk to them about everything that worries you and listen carefully to their advice.

    You haven’t done anything wrong, so you are not responsible for this situation. Forget every time you have suffered and try to live a new life. You are free to do whatever you want, so enjoy that opportunity. And the most important thing: smile, please; because, even horrible people sometimes try to demonstrate the opposite, in the end life is beautiful.

    Your sincerely,

    A man that is proud of a strong woman.

Juan Diego Fernández Agúndez

To whom deserves a fresh start:

    What if I told you that you deserve to be happy? What if I told you that the concept of love does not imply being insulted, physically aggressed or controlled? Would you then open your eyes? Love is just the opposite, it’s about respect and taking care of each other.

    I know you’re suffering; I know you feel as if you were in a prison, and I know you’re looking for the way to escape from it but you’re not able to work out how to do it.

    Let me tell you one thing: you’re not alone. There are many people, including me, who are willing to help you, although you are the one who has the key to unlock the prison. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and there’s a whole world of opportunities at the other side of fear, once you cross the door. And you can do it by letting go what it is hurting you and lessening your value, by raising your voice so that your aggressor is punished; don’t worry, justice will make sure that he doesn’t hurt you or any other woman ever again. You have to be brave, and fight for what he once took out from you: your freedom and self-esteem.

    I know you’ve spent lovely moments next to him, and I know he can be as addictive as a drug, but love is not a drug, and love does not hurt. You have to be aware of what you deserve, which is a fresh start far away from what it is currently choking you.

    If you let us be with you along the process, I can assure that you will soon smile as you used to do, because, even if you try to hide it, I know that your smile is covered by tears.

    Please, give yourself the chance to enjoy life. Do it for the self-love, the one you lost when that man came into your life, and the one that should have never been lost, because it has to be nothing but boosted.

    So, I encourage you to be determined, to open the door, to let your demons go away and to walk towards happiness. You deserve it.

Andrea Nevado Bustillo

Dear Woman,

    I can’t even imagine how much you are suffering, the sadness and bitterness that you feel in the deepest part of your being. Maybe you are doubting if you are or are not a battered woman because sometimes it is hard to realize some things, no matter how serious they are.

     Because of all of that today I am writing you a letter, to talk to you about something really concrete: love.

     Love is happiness and it can just grow if it gives us more smiles than tears. It is not just about loving another person; it is about loving ourselves. Love makes us free, not prisoners, since a couple in love enjoys life when the other is away too. Above all, Woman, love is not a lottery where you don’t know whether you will receive a prize or a punishment. You are wonderful and you must love yourself unconditionally. You deserve your family and friends’ love but also someone who loves you without pain, free from danger of continuous forgiveness hope that the other person will change. If a relationship doesn’t lead you to true love something is going wrong, since you must be loved with your strengths and weaknesses. Your partner should be someone to be trusted, who values you and increases your self-esteem, someone who is there no matter what.

     When you think it is not always that bad or something will change someday, please, open the door and allow yourself to realise that there are hundreds of people out there who, just like me, want you to be the best version of yourself. 

    A hug from someone who wants you to be happy.

Pablo Vaquero Ramos

Dear X, 

    First of all I want to let you know that you deserve better than what you are receiving now. I understand what you are going through and how hard it is to escape from this situation but you can do it, for you and all the people that love you and care about you, as well as for all the other women who didn´t have the chance. 

    Speaking up is a hard thing to do, most women suffer in silence because they are scared or because of all the reporting process, which is traumatic. But when you think about it , you are not only reporting for yourself, you are also inspiring others in the same position as you. I know that most of the time the sentences are really unfair and that trials only bring up memories that you were trying to forget, but it is worth it. 

    Telling what has been done to you is the bravest decision you can make, and even if you think that they didn't mean to harm you or that they are going to change, or you keep reminding yourself that they are the same person they were when you first met, that is no excuse. Some women don't report because of their children, but are they really protecting them by living with an abuser? by not protecting themselves? 

    This is something that has been happening for so long that we have normalized it, we are so used to it that we would rather be quiet than cause a scene. But it is not normal, and being silent isn't the solution, you should speak up or seek help because you are not alone. There are people who care about you and will help and protect you, so don't be afraid to be a survivor, for those who couldn´t.

Alicia Hernández Prieto

Dear woman,

I don’t know you and you don’t know me. I don’t know your name. I don’t know your age or your nationality. I just know that you need help. And I want you to know that you are not alone.

Even though I don’t know how your face looks like, I know that you are going through bad times due to the physical and mental abuses of someone who doesn’t deserve you. I want you to open your eyes and realize that you don’t deserve to be treated like that. You are beautiful, you are strong, you are brave and you can’t allow anyone to make yourself question your worth.

I know it’s hard to let someone that you love go, but believe me when I say that it is the best you can do. Someone who doesn’t allow you to be yourself doesn’t love you. Someone who mistreats you doesn’t love you. And you have to assume that. I know that it is not easy, but I want to remember you that you are not alone. Your family, your friends, your beloved ones and even me (although I don’t know you) are always going to support you.

Remember that it is not your fault, remember that you deserve to be happy. Leave behind all those people who don’t let you be yourself. Break with your past and move on; start living your life. You can do it; we believe in you.

Lucía Domínguez de Toro