I went to the post office. Still no money. I heard Mum and Dad had another boy, Chen Chen, I think. I've never met him. Thinking about meeting him makes me nervous and a little awkward.

My money is nearly gone. Luckily Li Heng looks after me, tossing me snacks as if it means nothing. At club today we learned more code and made the last planet's page, Pluto. It might never be used.

Before I joined the club, I hid in my bedroom and didn't want to go anywhere. Now I have energy again, like coming back to life. I'm happy every day. Maybe it's because I go out more, with friends beside me. I'm not lonely.

Dear Eris,

I hope these words find you as if we were face to face.

I'm writing on the last day of being twelve. You're going to the seaside soon. I'm happy for you. Besides leaving this here, I mailed a paper copy to your seaside address.

My life is ending. It feels strange. I think it's a good thing. I don't know if you'll agree.

Being your friend made me so happy. You were patient and caring, compassionate like an angel. You promised to protect me, to stay friends, and wanted me to celebrate whenever you shone. Beside you I could face myself and remember good things. I could hope for a future with more possibilities. You may have forgotten, but I remember: sitting beside you in class felt safe because you helped me solve problems. Meals were full of happy talk, so I ate more without noticing. Walking by the river with you, it stopped being foul, dead water and became a road to the sea. You gave me all of that.

You made me brave. With your encouragement, I dared step barefoot onto the earth and feel the real world. I looked up and saw the Sun, something I couldn't see while shrinking inside my little bedroom.

You're like a star with extraordinary gravity. Beside you, I begin to orbit, and for a little while the pain disappears.

But the pain was always there. I don't know who copied my handwriting to make them hurt me. I can't guess or find the answer. Even their cruel, lying, vengeful faces feel familiar. I remember when we were friends and can't understand how it became this. They look so happy when they hit me. They used to smile like that when we talked about aliens.

You're different. I'm timid and silent. I don't dare resist or question them. I can't even ask whether my parents love me; I just study their faces and grow more frightened. You can do so much. Thank you for everything you've done for me.

I envy your easy way with the world. Your smile looks out of place in that joyless classroom, enough to make people jealous. Sadness never holds you for long, even after all you've suffered. As you said, a soul flying high cannot be caught by the world. I've always crawled along the ground, but you showed me life could be so light. Happiness was out of reach for me. You only had to extend your hand.

As your friend, holding onto your sleeve, I almost touched the pulse of happiness and freedom.

Simply being beside you made me happy. Thank you.

On graduation day, I was standing on the roof. So many people in the playground, confetti floating like colored snow. A wonderful sight.

Don't grieve for me. Enjoy graduation, leave this school, go to the seaside and start again. I'm flying freely beside you. You don't have to do anything more. I don't mean to blame anyone. Maybe they're right and I'm too weak. If the truth makes things difficult, remember: the dead are gone; the living must go on.

I'm all right now. I see a new world: smiling people on Christmas Eve, trains arriving and leaving, travelers laughing with suitcases. I see the classroom where my life began and ended. Thank you for caring for me from the moment you reached out. Being your friend was the best thing in the world.

Earth is beautiful. I still love it. I'm glad I was born here.

May your journey be smooth and your future bright.