Sincerely, Jennifer x

Rebecca. Hey Rebecca, it’s your Dad. Why are you cooped up in there? I know you think you have to stay inside, but that’s silly.

I’ve told you not to watch too much of that stuff. It’s making you paranoid.

It’s a lovely day out here. The sun is shining. It’s so warm. Come outside, love.

The sun is shining. It’s such a nice day outside, and yet, here you are, locked up inside. It’s silly, isn’t it?

You can see all the stars at Three PM. Isn’t that special? Won’t you come outside and see? When have you ever seen the stars so early? When have you ever seen the stars shine so bright? It will take your breath away, I promise.

The world is warm, and the sky is so beautiful. That’s what it’s all about, you know. Good weather.

We could go to the park? How about we pick up a bit of dinner on the way and have a picnic, like we used to when you were little?

There’s nothing to be scared of sweetheart, I promise.

Doesn’t it seem so strange? All that stuff on your screens tells you that there’s something scary out here, but it’s just a lovely, sunny day. The sun is shining.

I’ve told you not to watch so much of that stuff. You’ll only scare yourself, and there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Why don’t you have a little peek through the curtains and see what I mean? A little sunlight will do you good. You’ve been locked up for days now. You’ve probably forgotten how beautiful the sun is. Why don’t you come and look?

Your Mum said you wouldn’t come and look. Why don’t you come out and prove her wrong. Why don’t you show everyone that you’re not frightened?

You’re a big girl now. Be brave.

Here, I’ll help you. We’ll take down these silly barriers that the soldiers put up, so that we can see you.

It’s all a fuss over nothing, my love. What’s the harm in coming out to enjoy the day? We’ll have a lovely picnic, just the two of us. What do you think?

The news doesn’t know anything, you know. All those journalists, they sit inside, panicking, just like you. They’re just trying to frighten you. It’s the only way they make any money. Do they ever tell you anything good? Anything nice that really makes you smile?

No. Of course not. It’s always that negative stuff that climbs inside your ear and burrows deep into your brain, until every worry you’ve ever had comes spilling out.

You can trust me though. I’m your Dad. I don’t need to lie. I don’t have an agenda. I just want you to enjoy this lovely day. The sun is shining. You can see all the stars. I just want you to see it, like I have.

Don’t be frightened. The soldiers have all gone now, sweetheart. It’s just me out here. Me and the sun.

The sun is shining. Why don’t you take a look? Just a little peek through the curtains. Look, Rebecca.

JUST LOOK.

The sun is shining. Oh Rebecca. I wish you could see.

All my bones feel warm and wonderful. Don’t you want to feel it too? They don’t want you to feel it. They don’t want you to see what I can see.

Please don’t cry. The sun doesn’t like to see us crying. She just wants to see you for a moment. Won’t you come out and look?

They shot people. The soldiers shot people for looking. Doesn’t that tell you something? All they did was leave their houses and look at this beautiful, sunny day, and they were murdered. What does that tell you?

The enemy isn’t out here, Rebecca. The enemy is in your screen. It’s on the radio. It’s piled up over by the park. Come and look. All the soldiers are dead. There’s nothing to fear. We can look. We can all look and enjoy this lovely day.

The sun is shining. It’s so bright that I can’t look at anything else. I know you want to look too, so just open the door, or open the curtains, and let the sun get a good look at you.

She asked me for you, Rebecca. The sun asked me if you’d come and see her and I said yes. Are you going to make a liar out of your old Dad?

The sun is shining and she’s shining for you. Don’t you want to see her? It won’t hurt at all. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

All the soldiers are dead and the government is gone. There’s nothing on the news but the same old scare stories, so just come outside and see.

Everybody’s doing it. It’s just a matter of time before you come outside. Wouldn’t you like to step into the sun? Wouldn’t it be a shame if we had to knock this door down and drag you out?

I wouldn’t like that, but if you keep being silly, there won’t be another way. The sun is shining. You have to see it.

Your Dad would want you to see it, Rebecca. He saw it too and he thought it was beautiful.

I thought it was beautiful.

I want you to see the sun Rebecca. The sun is shining. Won’t you come and see?

Don’t be scared. It’s just a little step outside, into the sun, and then it will all be over. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Everyone is smiling. Don’t you want to smile too?

Your Dad is smiling. Your Mum is smiling. Your neighbours are smiling. I am smiling. We are all waiting for you.

The sun is shining, Rebecca. It’s so beautiful. Come and see.