Michael, I'm finding things really hard right. I just got back to Savannah, to my mom's house for Christmas...and it's difficult. This is where I was when you left us... I was just here for a couple days, but what an awful couple of days to be gone. So, it's strange being back here. Also, it's so different, I feel like I'm in a different world. I'm sure you know what that's like - being gone on tour all over the world for months and months or years and then finally going back 'home' to Encino to visit with family or something. It's hard to adjust. A lot of emotions. Especially at Christmas. Every time something happy or good happens, I get sad. I cannot get past the fact that you.should.be.here.
It's rare that I'm back here and I'll be here for a while, but after that it won't be until next Christmas. I'm usually not even here longer than Christmas Eve and Day. I get to be with my mom and I know she wants to spend time and go shopping and bake and decorate the tree and do all of the traditional Christmas stuff that we never get to, but I'm just not in the mood. Every time we do something like that, a piece of me gets really sad inside. I can't tell her because she won't understand. No one here will. Leia just invited me over to bake Gingerbread bears. I might try to talk to her about this because I feel I really need someone to talk to. But I'm not sure yet. I'm afraid she won't take me seriously (If she doesn't she'll act like she does and she'll console me, but I'm afraid that inside she'll think I'm overreacting or something.) I just hope she believes me, because this pain is very real. I feel such a deep profound 'missing' for you. I've only felt this once before - that kind of missing where you almost physically feel it all over and to the core, an aching yearning. This is my first Christmas with and without you and that is just completely overwhelming me.
I keep thinking of your children and your mother, this season has got to be intolerable. All that "Christmas cheer" everywhere. I hope they're doing well. Please help them feel at ease if you can. I didn't need to say that, I know you will.
I love you, Michael.