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Nancy,
Hey. I know we don’t know each other super well or anything, but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Obviously Vecna isn’t just about me, keeping me safe keeps the whole town safe, but I still appreciate it. It’s nice knowing how far you’re willing to go to help, definitely worth a thank you, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get the chance to see you in person again, so figured I’d do it here. Tell Robin thanks for me too, okay? Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever properly thanked you for anything you’ve done for me. I should probably change that.
You know that night at the Byers’ house when we were trying to get information out of Will? It was right after I moved here, and the first time I had to deal with any of the Upside Down bullshit, and I was mostly just following Lucas and Dustin around so I doubt you even really noticed me. I was probably just lumped in as one of Mike’s friends. Which is totally fair, there was so much else happening, but I noticed you right away. I couldn’t figure out what you were doing there. I’m not trying to be rude, I just sort of had this… warped idea of what femininity was. My mom is much more traditionally feminine then I am, and she’s also a really passive person, and well she usually doesn’t outright say it I know she’s always wished I was more like her. Plus she used to tell me stuff about how I was to rambunctious or harsh for other girls, so I started to associate being girly with being like her. You know, more willing to roll over then fight back. Then Billy sort of reinforced all of those ideas. Like, he would always tell me how I was different then other girls, better then them because I didn't care about stupid stuff like my appearance or get crazy over boys. I realize his opinion is probably not the one I should have been listening to, but I was a kid and it was encouraging how I already perceived things so I went with it. So when we ran into you at the lab, and I couldn’t figure it out. Like you’re pretty, and you were wearing subtle make-up, and you were standing there with a boyfriend, and back at the house it became clear how much you cared about him. It didn’t feel like you belonged in the same situation as the demogorgons we’d spent the afternoon fending off.
Then we thought the demidogs were coming and everything happened so fast, but I still clearly remember the way Hopper tried to give Jonathan a gun and you took it instead. When you raised it to your shoulder and it was like something just clicked. The gun looked like it belonged there and I couldn’t believe I’d ever doubted you belonged in this world too. Suddenly it was obvious how much of a badass you were, and even though I was completely terrified, that was also the first moment I realized it was possible for someone to be feminine and badass at the same time. Then I saw you at Snowball or sometimes when Mike would invite us over, and it all just reinforced it. I mean, you’re beautiful, but even when there weren’t monsters around there was always an extra edge to you, and I knew that badass was still always there. That might not seem like a lot, but it was like this weight lifted off my shoulders. It didn’t matter if I wanted to look nice sometimes, or was excited about a school dance. I could do all that stuff and still get guys to take me seriously. Obviously I’m still not as girly as you are, but it was nice to know I could be if I wanted and I wouldn’t change anything.
Honestly, you’re sort of my hero. You seem so confident in yourself, and unwilling to let anyone give you shit about it. Not to mention that you’re always sort of looking out for, well, everyone. Like right now, you’re off probably bluffing your way into a mental hospital to try and keep a town safe that will hopefully never even know it was in danger. That’s a total badass move. If I make it out of this I’d like to be able to be more like that. But obviously if you’re reading this I didn’t, and I don’t want you to feel guilty about that. Given how little time we had to work with it’s incredible you’ve managed to find out as much you already have. Nobody could have worked faster, there just wasn’t enough time. The fact you’re even trying means a lot to me. I guess I just wanted to let you know that.
When you do find Vecna, which I know you will, do me a favor, okay? Blast the hell out of him. I’d ask one of the guys, but honestly I think you’re the best shot we’ve got. Lucas is great with his slingshot, but I don’t think he’s ever held a gun, and Dustin and Steve have some of the worst aim I’ve ever seen. Obviously don’t put yourself at risk for it, but if you get the chance, light him up for me.
Max