The world has been shaken by the devastating events of this week, where 22 people were killed and 119 more injured after a suicide bomber detonated a device at an Arianda Grande concert full of children at the Manchester Arena.
Since the news, there has been a huge outpouring of love towards the victims and their families and major concerns raised about how Ariana Grande herself would react.
Her tweet just hours after the performance made people hope and pray she didn’t blame herself in any way for what had happened.
Coming to terms with complicated emotions as an adult can be difficult and more often than not it takes the simple words of a child to put things into perspective.
That’s why ten-year-old Poppy Sutcliffe’s incredible letter to Ariana Grande is so poignant.
Poppy was at the gig in Manchester the night of the attack and was lucky enough to leave the arena physically unharmed.
She was given the tickets as a Christmas present and attended with her mother Sarah for a fun night out. As with all the revellers that night, their joy soon turned to sadness.
Despite Ariana Grande returning to the U.S. straight after the attack to be with her family, Poppy, from Teesside, penned this incredible letter to her ‘favourite singer’:
To Ariana Grande,
I am your number 1 fan!!! I was at your concert on the 22nd May 2017, Manchester and I am very sorry that someone set some bombs off.
I hope you are ok and that you will come back to England again to perform.
Overall you were so good I can’t describe how amazing you were.
I am extremely sorry silly people do things like this and I really hope you’re not too scared.
Keep writing and singing awesome songs,
Love from your No 1 fan x x x
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The youngster read her note out on BBC News and pleaded with Ariana Grande to return to making music.
All 22 victims of the attack have now been formally identified while vigils have been held around Manchester and the world to pay respect to those who lost their lives.
Even the Queen came to Manchester to visit the injured children at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Taking the idea of ‘being woke’ to a whole new level over a decade-long career in sport, court and online news, George has worked for titles and agencies including ESPN FC, Eurosport, LADbible and Court News UK. He may not have a degree but does have an unhealthy obsession with Lord of the Rings.