Dear Diary,

Sorry. Hope you didn't miss me. I didn't forget you. I was just busy. Today was a very happy day. Mom dropped me off at school. After that I went to the classroom. Today, it was finally my turn to sit beside the window. It was so good. I could see all the way to the sky. I could see the birds flying up in the sky. A sparrow came to sit outside the window. It was looking at me. It was so cute. Like Jennie. Today Jennie had pink ribbons in her hair. She was looking so cute. She is so kind. We had a test today. And she told me one answer I couldn't remember. She even gave me a candy. She is so sweet. I told mom to buy me pink ribbons. Mom said yes. On Monday I'll wear them to school. We'll match. Okay. I have ballet class tomorrow. I'll talk to you later. Goodnight.

- Love, Minnie.

She rolls over on the bed, the soft blue covers wrinkling under her soft weight. Pushing the diary under the pillow, she lies on her side, the white ruffles of the pillow case tickling her pale cheek.

Not every day does Minnie write to her diary. It's only on either happy days or the sad ones. Happy ones like today - when she got to sit by the window, or see a sparrow up close, or get a candy from Jennie.

Jennie. Jennie Marlow. She is new in class. Came from Canada after her father's transfer. Brown skin, black hair, slight chub in her cheeks, small nose.

'Cute' - that's what Minnie had thought when she first saw Jennie, about a month ago, sitting beside the window. Looking outside.

Minnie was late for school that day. It was actually her usual time. Or else she could've surely sat in the front row, beside her. Could've shared her mum's noodles and meatballs with her. But she couldn't. If only she didn't stay up late to have the doll house tea party with Daddy.

Surprisingly, she never came late since the next day. Minnie's mom is so happy these days. Daddy is relieved, too - finally getting a good rest after all those dragging hours at the office. They are trying for a second one. "A baby sister would be good" - is what Minnie had said. But her mom wants a little Michael. Maybe they'll try for a Michael again if it doesn't happen this time, either.

Anyway. We get sidetracked a lot when we get nostalgic. It seems Minnie is happy today. She's sleeping so peacefully. Other days, she asks her mom to pat her to sleep, but today, she can go to sleep alone. Happy thoughts do help with sleep. Happy thoughts and a tired body. Today, Minnie played a lot with Jennie. She forgot to write about it. Maybe she was too excited about the ribbons. Maybe she'll write about it some other day. Maybe another day when she's happy. On another happy day.

Dear Diary,

Hope you are good. I'm sorry for not writing to you more often. These days I'm a bit busy. Taking care of a person all by yourself is a bit hard. But don't worry, I'm trying. I'm doing my best. And to be honest, it feels great to have someone depend on you. Especially if that someone is the person you love. Jenna, she is eating properly now. It seems she has realised how much I love her. She doesn't scream anymore when I peel the tape off her mouth. But she does stay quiet a lot. I'm trying to make her talk.

But sometimes it gets on my nerves how she looks away from me. I wish she'd smile at me more, like she used to. I want her to laugh like she used to do when we hung out together. Honestly, I don't understand why she's acting so different now. This is almost the same as hanging out together. Like we used to. Just a bit more private. It's not as bad as she says it is. Ain't it? Maybe she's craving some fresh air. She has been in the room for almost 4 days now. I guess I'll take her out in the garden tomorrow. It'll be a good change of pace. It's great I found this house for such a low price.

There are not many people living here. And the few houses around are a bit away from ours. Honestly, I think this is great. Me and Jenna in this house. All alone. Just the two of us. It's like we're a married couple living in the wilderness. If I were being truthful, I wanted a house in the woods. But then, I read on the internet that getting network there is tough. It'd have caused problems for my work. And I can't risk my job. Not when I have an extra mouth to feed. Plus, filling up the food stock every week would have been a serious problem with how far the stores are from the woods. But if I were a guy, I'd have surely taken Jenna there. But I can't. Driving all the way to the stores and returning home, doing all those calculations and accounts. It'd kill me. Really.

But sometimes. Just sometimes, I think. Maybe it'd have been better if I were a man. Maybe Jenna would've liked me better that way. Maybe. Just maybe, Jennie would've too. But I guess it's futile to think about her now. She is gone. She'd never come back.

But, I'd never let go of Jenna. I'd cherish her forever. Like anyone would do for their loved one. Anyway. I gotta go now. I have to give Jenna a bath. She doesn't like getting sweaty. And I'm trying to please her, so that she'll smile at me again. I just want to see her happy. And these days when we're so close, I feel like I'd do anything to make her happy. And I guess I might, actually. But then again, that's what anybody would do, right? For their loved one? I'm just a normal person. Doing the same. Anyway. It's getting late. I gotta go now. I'll talk to you more later. Bye.

- Love, Minnie.

Dear Diary,

Today was a very happy day. I matched ribbons with Jennie. Some girls said I copied her. But Jennie said I looked cute. She was looking soooo pretty today. She let me sit beside the window in her place. The sky looked so blue today. I saw a cloud that looked like a cat. The sparrow from last day came to sit by the window today, too. Maybe it was out to play. Today I played with Jennie in the lunch break. She shared her lunch with me. It was so yummy. Mom's sandwitches are yummy too. But Jennie's butter toast was so good. I wish she'd eat my lunch tomorrow. I forgot to eat my lunch today. Mom was so angry. But she praised me after seeing the test. I got full marks 25. I didn't tell her that Jennie told me one answer. Mom doesn't like it when I ask for help. I won't tell her. It's not bad right? I don't want to tell her. She'll get angry. Fine. maybe I'll tell her later. When she'll forget about the test. Maybe I'll tell Daddy. Mom doesn't get angry at Daddy. She is always happy when Daddy comes home. He says he loves mom. But he says he loves Mr. Elephant too. But when I give Mr. Elephant to Daddy, he doesn't take it to sleep. I don't undarstand what Daddy says. Mom is nice. She takes Ms. Rabbit with her. I love mom. But I just don't understand them. The Boys. You know. Boys are weird. They laugh all the time and fight. I don't like them. But Mom says Daddy is not a boy anymore. I still don't understand him. I love him. I love Daddy. But he's weird. But he plays with me. So he's good. Yesterday Daddy gave me a doll. He said it looks like me becus it has blonde hair. Daddy says I'm pretty. I don't think so. I told him to bring a brown doll. Like Jennie. With black hair. He said yes. She wil be so pretty. I can't wait to see her. I am so happy. Ok it's time for sleep. I have to go now. Or else mom will be angry. Goodnight. I'll tell you when Daddy gets me the doll. Goodnight.

- Love Minnie

The diary slid under her ruffled pillow case. Turning to her side she covers herself in the pink sheets. Her hand reach for the bedside lamp, flicking the light off. Moonlight falling on her pale face, making the blue eyes sparkle in ways not a single soul could ever hold out a worthy appreciation.

The pink lips pressed in a small smile as she dreams of the inevitable happiness awaiting her. Of the Doll. Of Jennie. Maybe of more happy days.

And once again she forgot to write how her eyes felt damp when the girls called her a copycat. She forgot to write how her tummy growled from hunger in the middle of the class and Oh how it ached.

She keeps forgetting.

The door to her room closes. Closing her off from the rest of the house. Her mom is adamant on a Michael. Michael. The boy she cradled in her dreams since she was a teenager. She'd bring him to life. She knows. She will. And if it means ending up with another Minnie, maybe so. She'll accept it.

Laughter strolls in from distance. From dimly lit corners of the house. Of warmth. Of untouchable golden warmth.

Soon Minnie will drift off to sleep. While the Moonlight tries to paint the dark room in her silver light. Yet fails.