Dear Father,

I’m here in Portland and I miss you. Writing this letter is difficult because I would rather see you, but it is hard to travel back to Mexico, without a passport or visa. Even though I can’t talk to you, I think about you every day. I am currently learning English, working toward the promise I made to you when I left Mexico.

I want to tell you that I respect you and our culture, but for many years, I have kept from you a very important piece of my life. I want to confess that I am homosexual and have HIV. I feel it is important to share this with you so you can understand one of the reasons I moved to America. It has been difficult to achieve the American dream, like finding a job and making money. I want to apologize for being unable to provide financial help to you over the last ten years. It was painful to find out Manuel sold your house and I was not able to buy a new house for you.

I forgive you for your past mistakes and hope you can forgive me for mine. Thank you to God, my mother, and my father for giving me life. Without these people, I wouldn’t have been able to live here on Earth.

Love,

Felix, age 44