Dad,
I worked overnight on the election so I didn't sleep for two days. When I watched Hillary's concession speech I cried and cried. Yes I was tired, and drained, but that wasn't why I cried.
I cried because the leader of the free world was so nearly a woman. She so nearly shattered the final glass ceiling.
I woke up this morning and I didn't want to get out of bed. I felt I had no more fight. I saw the scale of the battle we still have ahead of us and I felt tired.
In that speech, Hillary told us: "To all the little girls watching... never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world. To all the women... who have put their faith in this campaign and in me... nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion."
We desperately needed that champion. I am a woman. I am half of the world's population. So why did that election result make me feel like a minority? Why did it feel so... personal?
Hillary gave hope to so many women - including me - that they could achieve whatever they want, even if they were female in a male-dominated world.
I was sad that she lost. But I was devastated that she lost to someone who has zero respect for women. For someone who has a history of making crude, misogynistic remarks to us. Someone who values women based on what they look like. Someone who said about one of his female rivals: "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?! I mean she's a woman.. are we serious?"
Someone who is OK with calling women pigs.
I could go on and on and on and on.
I don't want you to justify why you voted - it's too late now, and I respect your right to vote however you wish.
But I had to tell you how I feel. Because I am upset there are still so many people who think it is OK for one of the most powerful men in the world to treat women like this.
And I am so bitterly disappointed that one of those people is you.
*Note: I have a wonderful step-father who raised me in the UK. This letter is not addressed to him.*