Ju went missing in May 2017 following the death of her mother. Thankfully, with the support of Missing People, she was able to return home and get help. As we pass the anniversary of Ju’s missing experience, she felt compelled to write something directly to people who are currently missing in the hope that it might help someone else.
I hope that this letter finds you safe and well and I hope that you won’t be offended by my writing to you. You’ve been on my mind and the words that I have are words that I wanted to share with you alone. You matter, you will be listened to, you will be heard. You will find no judgement here, it is a safe place. We don’t need to know your story but we will sit with you and listen if you need to tell it. You are not alone. You matter. You are missed.
I wonder where you are right now, what you are doing with your day, how you are feeling about tomorrow. I wonder if you are at peace with yourself or if you find yourself in turmoil and unhappy with life. I wonder if you have somewhere to be, someone to be with and a hope for the future.
I hope that as you read this letter you will have a sense of belonging a sense of being understood a sense of friendship a sense of the promise of new beginnings. I hope that you are feeling safe and aware that you have choices, you always have choices.
I am thinking of you today because today marks four years since I too became lost, four years since I walked out of my home unsure of the future, too afraid to look backwards, too afraid to look forwards. All of our stories are different all of our hurts unique to us but we share one common thing, we are all people who for whatever reason have struggled or are struggling with our circumstances. The fear of staying the fear of going the fear of returning.
My friend, you are not alone. You cannot be a ‘missing person’ unless somebody misses you. You are valuable you are worthy you are precious. You deserve to be heard, you deserve to be safe.
If you are able to read this, please get in touch with Missing People on 116000. They helped me to re-find myself and never judged.
I shall be thinking of you,
Lots of love,
Ju
We have launched a regular email so that you can be aware of new missing person appeals and share them far and wide! We are also calling on all Heroes to be the eyes and ears for Missing People on the ground. Your sighting of a missing person could make a difference in a crucial time.
