A/N: Okay, guys. I've decided on an ending. My opinion as a writer is that she should die while my heart, like some of you, is screaming, "Nooo!". There's also a number of you who have shared your stories with me which has greatly influenced a lot with DS. As a result, I'm technically going to have both a good and a bad ending. Those of you who want to remember this story as where Serena lives, I'll ask you to stop reading after a certain chapter. Those who want to read the real ending will have to stick around a little longer. Either way, I hope you guys enjoy! Dear Stranger is approaching its end soon.

Dear Stranger,

The last two weeks have felt like a dream.

The loneliness I've been feeling has faded into...something else. Maybe thoughtful is the word I'm looking for. But I'm more at peace than I was before. I asked to have my bed be moved closer to the window so I can look out over the city. It's beautiful, especially at night. All the lights look like one giant beehive with its many workers constantly streaming in and out.

People are graduating today. To the next grade, to the next school, to life. That means I've been stuck in the hospital for almost a year now. I've skipped an entire year of school. I should've been getting excited for becoming a senior, but I'm not. There's something that feels really horrible about that. A year ago, the old Serena would've loved this. No boring classes, no homework, no reprimands from teachers, sleeping as much as I want. But right now I feel like missing all that is a bad thing. If I ever get out of here, I'm going to have to repeat my missed years with kids who are younger than me. And I'll have to because school is important these days. College is important and to get there I need a high school diploma. Just looking at all the nurses and doctors...they do the normal schooling, but then they have to go to med school after college. That's crazy, but that's life isn't it? Lots of hard work and no easy way to get around it that won't bite you in the butt later in life. I want to be able to help the people who are stuck here like me, but there's no way my mom will be able to send me through both college and med school. Maybe when I get out, I'll start a charity or something. Raise awareness to all sorts of medical problems.

Mom doesn't visit too often because she has to work so much and it's almost a three hour drive from home to here, but she was able to make it here this past weekend. I didn't recognize her at first. Her skin was pale and she had bags under her eyes and she seemed so tired and weak. My mom was a mess and I felt like it was all my fault. She was pretty much killing herself for me. I mean that much to her. That thought alone is making me cry again. But I also feel like, with every day that passes, that her suffering will be in vain.

My birthday is coming up really soon. It's June thirtieth. I'm starting to feel like someone's planning something because Darien and Amy and even Doctor Dez once are talking more than usual. They quiet down once I get close. So if they are planning something, it's one thing to look forward to. I hope I live long enough.

How are you, Stranger? It's been a while since you've sent me anything. I'm beginning to think something happened to you. I hope you're okay otherwise I'll have no one to share my thoughts to. I've been thinking a lot and I don't want to talk to Dr. Meioh. When I'm talking to you, no one is judging me or analyzing me and what I say. I don't have to worry about the consequences. No one will prescribe me pills to make me less crazy and depressed. I can just be me.

Sincerely yours,

Ms. Contemplative