The Orlando Massacre has broken the hearts of many in the LGBT community. The largest mass shooting in US history has left 50 dead, a further 53 wounded and a whole community affected.
Worldwide, tributes have poured in for the victims with multiple cities hosting vigils and remembrance services.
Now a young man who narrowly avoided being shot has penned a powerful letter to the killer.
The letter features on XOJane and highlights the determination of the survivors to remain united in love.
Alejandro A. Francisco begins:
“I’m a young, gay man who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Orlando. I love my friends, I love my parents, I’m half Puerto Rican, half Dominican, 21 years old, and at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, you almost took my life.”
“Several of my friends were there that night, including my friend Stanley. I will never see Stanley again. You took that away from me,” he writes.
Francisco continues to say that he frequented Pulse because he felt safe there. He was there on Saturday night to celebrate Latin night.
“Saturday night was Latin night, and it was a party vibe because of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It was a hot night, and the club was filled with life and love and dancing and — until you arrived — pure joy.”
Francisco explains that he left the club slightly early and just as he and his friends crossed the road, they heard gunshots.
“They sounded like firecrackers. We were terrified. We saw people running all around us, some of them jumping fences. We had no idea the all-consuming nightmare we narrowly escaped inside,” he says.
The young man describes the attack for what it was.
“Please. Let’s call it what it was: the worst attack — on love — on U.S. soil,” he states.
Francisco addresses Omar again.
“These men and women were strangers to you. All of them had one precious gift, one saving grace that you could never, ever have. That much is clear. I know you had a child and a wife and a father and a mother, but you did not have what they had. You never could have. What happened never could have happened if you did,” he writes powerfully.
“But Omar, you failed,” he continues.
“You tried to massacre the very one thing that you can never destroy in our community. Ever.”
“You can not take away our love.”
“It is more powerful than anything else that exists in the world,” he says.
“I am so sorry you must not have ever had that in your life. Otherwise, I can’t imagine you would have wanted so badly to end mine” continues Francisco.
He concludes by reminding everyone that even when faced with the most adverse conditions, love will prevail.
“Omar, we are stronger than your hate. We always will be.”
Read the letter in full HERE.
