dearxxx:
iamterriblysorrytotellyouthatihavelostthevaluablebookyouweresokindtolendmelastweek.ireaditeverydayandintendedtofinishitnextmonth.lastnightwhenicametomyroom,itwasnowheretobefound.iwilltrytorecoveritassoonaspossible.ififailtofindit,iwillgetanewbookforyou.
butiamafraiditcannevertaketheplaceoftheoldone.oldbooksarelikeoldfriends.oncelost,theycanneverbereplaced.theyareconnectedwithcherishedassociationswhichthenewonescanneverhave.andforthisirrecoverableloss,iamtoblame.iwassocarelesswithmythings.thisisawarningtometobemorecarefulinthefuture.
yourstruly,
xxx