BREATHE ROMEO

Dear Romeo,

I am writing to send you my best wishes, because boy do you need them.

I am more than sorry to have heard about Mercutio's death, I can't begin to imagine losing your best friend. I know you are angry; angry at Tybalt, angry at the Capulet's and even the Montague's for having this rivalry in the first place, and you are definitely mad at the world. That's how I would feel, I think, if I ever lost anyone. I would act out in rage before I even gave myself the chance to mourn or deny the loss. In fact the idea is not only terrifying but maddening to lose someone who means more to you than yourself - but what I want to tell you is yes, the world is incredibly unfair and you should be mad. But you cannot allow that anger and resentment to blind you.

You have a track record for making hasty decisions and allowing your emotions to take over your thoughts, actions, and basically entire life. This is not solely a bad trait, it means that while you might hate with every ounce of your being you also care and love with everything you have. Your "undying" rage against Tybalt will cloud your judgment, therefore I am warning you to breathe before anything else. Allow your body to break down and weep for your friend and process what his death really means to you. Because what you will find is that your hate isn't only for Tybalt, you are mad at yourself. You are angry that you didn't fight beside Mercutio, you are mad you couldn't stop the fighting before his life was taken, you are mad that it isn't you who died. Now that you have realized this, hopefully soon enough, take another breath.

This was not your fault. This is not the end of the world for you. The solution is not to make another rash decision and shed more blood. You lost your best friend and while you are feeling the burning pain that is described as grief, understand that is how Juliet will feel if you kill Tybalt. That's how Tybalt's best friend will feel and that might just cause him to kill you. It is an endless cycle and if your really mean it when you say you love Juliet, you love Tybalt like a cousin, you want peace in your lives, breath, Romeo. For once, think outside of the immediate situation and your immediate feelings.

Breathe.

Sincerely, 
Louise