You're probably wondering why I'm writing this instead of simply saying
what I have to say to your face. But this isn't easy for me, and I'm afraid
if I try to explain it, I'll mess up. I do that sometimes.

Something happened to me today at the AIDS walk that took me by surprise.
A mirror was held up, and I saw myself in it, and I didn't like what I saw.
That woman represented the most narrow-minded, bigoted, and prejudiced among us.
Yet she was so convinced of her own superiority. When I saw how you handled
her, and I recogized how wrong she was about you and AIDS and the way people
react out of ignorance, I knew I had some major soul-searching to do.

To begin with, I owe you a personal apology for some of the things I've said
and done. I also owe you a debt of gratitude for opening my eyes. Things are
not what they seem, or what we wish them to be. Neither are people. It's a
lesson I'm learning late, but one I won't forget. And if there's one thing I
might do to make up for my past behavior, it's to make you this solemn promise:
to recognize and move eyond my own prejudices andto not be so quick to rush to
judgment.

You're very strong Stone. You proved that today when you stood up for yourself.
But should you ever find you need someone to stand up with you, you know where
to find me.

Respectfully yours,

Alan Quatermiane, Jr.