January 30th

Dear Diary,

     Rayna came to see me yesterday! She said Aimi had a dance competition and couldn't come, but she was glad she got to see me. And I was glad to see her.

    I got to experience my first visiting day, which, surprisingly, was not chaotic. The men in scrubs brought me out of my room by the arms at exactly 12 pm. I was faced with confusion  because I didn't assume anyone would be visiting me. They led me down a bright hallway, one I had not been down, as it was not part of my entrance into the building. A key card was used to open the latched door, and I was greeted with this sight:

     People of all sizes and ages, wearing the same thing as me were at steel tables. Family and friends were sitting vertical to them, on similar benches. There was a table with lunch in the back, and people were helping themselves. The food seemed to be several degrees better than what they shove through the slot under my door.

     Sitting near the back right corner, hunched up, was Rayna. I rushed out of the men's grip and hurried to meet my friend. As our arms wrapped around each other, I heard a loud whistle ringing in my ear. "No physical contact!" shouted the guard to my right.

     We pulled away, appalled, and sat down to face each other. We spent the whole forty-five minutes talking, not caring about the food. We caught up on life (she explained what I'd been missing), and I could not believe that I got to see her again. Apparently, my mother would only know Rayna showed up by checking the records at the end of the day. 

     In those short 45 minutes, I felt what I hadn't felt in weeks: happiness. I felt happy with Rayna because she was my friend. I didn't have to worry about my parents or my sister. I could just focus on Rayna, Aimi and my's friendship, even though Aimi couldn't be there.

    I added every memory from today to the planets around the star of happiness. Because today I was finally happy again, and I wish that feeling didn't have to go away.

See you next time,
Emma