On 12 August I received this caring email from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous. Thank you ‘anonymous’.
“Hi Leona,
I just went down a rabbit hole reading about the Burj Khalifa and saw a couple lines on Wikipedia regarding your daughter. I ended up finding your website and reading through it. It is such a sad tale, and I’m sorry that Laura, you, and your family had to go through so much.
I guess I’m emailing because I saw that as recently as July of this year, on her birthday, you’re still posting updates to the website. I wanted you to know that random people like me do stumble upon her story and that it isn’t lost. I’m also glad that at least today when I looked, the Wikipedia article states the truth about the coroner’s report and the emails indicating the real location of her death.
There is no pain that I’ve experienced in my life that would be comparable to yours, but I do hope that you’re able to move on while still honoring Laura’s memory. I will remember her story and share it when I can. May you and your family find happiness. Best.”
There are two reasons why I have not blogged for quite some time.
I was battling with my healing process and needed to move away from Laura and her story for a while. I am pleased to say that at last, I am in a much better place, and can finally move on with my life, but never forgetting Laura, or the immense sadness of her death. I know that she would not have liked me to be tormented and to suffer for as long as I have. Nearly eight years. For a long time, I was almost split into two people, one that would try to be normal and cope with everyday life, and the other a tortured mess. At one stage I disappeared and even morphed into Laura, the pain was so intense. I have now become one again and I am allowing myself to live, no longer as the dead living. I have forgiven myself and am at peace with Laura. But some days it still hits hard…
The second reason why I don’t blog regularly is that Laura’s story is diluted on internet searches with my stories, obscuring important details about her death. I created this website for her so that her story will never be hidden again.
Thank you to everyone who has been following my blog, and more importantly, Laura’s story.
Laura Vanessa Nunes 
Dear Leona,
I was at the dinner table this evening when the topic of how “certain” men with privilege abuse women came up. Then, my dad mentioned a case where an SA girl jumped off the Burj Khalifa some years ago as a result of being poorly treated. I don’t think he knew much into the details of it. Intrigued, I typed in those very words and came across the article from the Daily Mail UK. I felt the pain and hurt of it and cannot imagine what you as her mother must feel. I then began looking at the series of links online and came across your web page. I’m currently on this article (from the top down) and will continue to read till the end.
I want you to know that your voice is being heard and read all these years later. Your story matters and so does Laura’s. What a beautiful daughter. What a story.
I will continue to pray for you and your family. Jesus loves you and He heals and He restores…and I pray that you will find peace and purpose through Him in these years ahead. Your love for your daughter is clear in these blogs and all your efforts. What an exemplary mother you are. I’m sure Laura would be so honoured.
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