A letter from Apr 24th, 2021

Dear Teacup, In five years, it will be your 18th birthday. In five years, you’ll have finished high school. In five years, you’ll be expected to go to college. In five years, you will be a legal adult. In five years, you will be someone completely different than your 13 year old self. I now you’ll be carrying hurt. Little or big, it doesn’t matter. I know somewhere in between now and then, you’ll be hurt badly. More badly than you are hurt now. It won’t be a close friend abruptly leaving. It won’t be a friend you thought you could trust, stealing your ideas. It won’t be you left in the dust with your best friend. It will be something worse, and I can only hope that the hurt didn’t scar. I can only hope that you just tripped - that you didn’t tumble down a hill. I can only hope that you didn’t stay in the dark hole forever. That you found a rope and climbed out. That you held on, even when your hand slipped a little. I can only hope that you found light. Whether it be a match or a bonfire, it doesn’t really matter. Just that you saw the light. I hope you are achieving things. I hope you’ve gotten off your phone and tried something. I hope you’ve fully realized that you can’t hide behind a screen. And I hope you are doing something amazing. Right now, I can think of five different things (for five different years). - Written a book - Fully composed a song - Gotten a job - Become a camp counselor/CIT - Found the dream friend group I know one of those will never be true, but you can try. Do you still want the girl like Silver? Chill with a slight lack of motivation. Nick? Skater who constantly wants to succeed in school. Daisy? Free-spirited girl who has a passion for art. Ben? Popular with a compassionate and vulnerable side. And do you still want to be like Olivia? A singer/song-writer who creates hits from the heart. Billie? Someone with an amazing family who supports her with her well-deserved fame. Ris? Attends an amazing school, successful YouTuber, and overall amazing personality. January You? The version of you who was a natural leader. And Sophia? Pursues all her passions and deals with the ups and downs of different relationships. I don’t want to be hurt, I know I will, but I don’t want to be. I want the perfect friend group, I know I can’t, but I do. I want to be my dream self, I know I won’t, but I want to. I love you to the edge of the universe and back (x Infinity). Tea