A Letter to Duke Bourin 3

Dear Duke Bourin,

Many things have happened recently that have made me change how I think.

I'm sure Udari and Umans can get along. I've seen relationships and families that have taught me this is true. There's definitely proof that we can love each other...

But I don’t think everyone thinks like this.

For a long time I felt like the only difference was our height and hair color. Even if we eat different things or live in different places, I think we can share all of those things and it will even make our lives better.

But I think that no matter what we eat, no matter how tall or short we are, or what the color of our hair is, some people will always think we’re different, and that we don’t belong together.

And I don’t think one single person can change that.

No matter what you tell people, no matter how hard we try, it feels like some are still willing to hate us for no reason, and pin their problems on us. Even if you try to help us, there’s not much you can do to change how some people think.

Is it bad that I've started losing hope that we can get along?

Maybe I focused too much on what I can see and not enough and what can’t be seen. Our Udari strength and mysterious Songmagic is intimidating to Umans, even if your magic and weapons are much more violent. Maybe, if those continue existing, we might never be able to see each other as equals and without fear, even if we grew to be the same height, or wore the same hair colors.

Please forgive me for losing hope… I’ll stop bothering you with sad letters for now, and instead, I’ll do my best so that you don’t have to read a letter like this again.

I’ll focus on what I can do, instead of thinking about what I might not be able to change.

Lullaby