A letter from Jul 10th, 2021

Dear FutureMe, Hi. How are things? I hope they're good. I hope you're good. I wonder so much what the world is going to look like by the time you read this. Will you ever read this, I wonder? Five years is a long time. Five years can change a lot of things. You'll be twenty-two. You'll probably be in your third year of university. You probably won't be living with your parents anymore. Is Siobhan still living with them? What has happened in the past five years? I can't really imagine what life is going to be like then. What is the state of the world like? Global warming? Racism? ******? Queerphobia? Ableism? Covid? Has there been another world war? Does it look like there's going to be another world war? What has changed? What do you wish had changed? I have this awful fear that for some reason, homophobia is going to make more of a scene between now and when you read this. I don't know why, it just feels like something bad is going to happen with it. I hope not though. Surely we're past that? Surely. How is Jade? Are they still dating Maya? How long did they date Maya for? How are they in general? Are they at uni? Do you still talk to them? Do you see them often? How is Mila? Are they at uni? Do you still talk to them? When they suggested moving to emails was it because they were tired of you, or not? Have you met each other yet? How often do you talk to to them? Are they still in England? How is Maleeha? Is she at uni? Is she ***? Where did she end up for uni? Do you still talk to her? How is she generally? Did you ever meet each other? Did she finish her novel? How is Stef? Do you still talk to her? Is she dating someone? Is she working as a social worker? Is she alright? Is she in her own place now? Have you seen much of her? How are Mum and Dad? Is Mum's fibro any better? Is Dad alright? Where are they living? Please, please say they're still together. How is Tani and her lot? Are they still travelling in a van? Are they in Bali? How is Siobhan? She must have finished school by now? Is she going to uni? How is she? I hope both of them are alright. God, Indie and Atlas must be so big now! Proper people. I hope you get to talk to them lots. I hope they think you're a fun auntie. How's the rest of the family? Do you see any of them much? Where do YOU live? Where did you go for uni? Perth? Melbourne? Did you end up in someplace random like Adelaide or Sydney? Canberra?!?! Are you still living wherever you first chose now? Did you even end up going to uni? What are you studying??? Right now I can't really decide. I think maybe psychology and english lit. But I mean, that could change, couldn't it? Maybe you went with your 6-year-old-self's plan and studied geology so you could get on the palaeontology route. Where are you? What are you doing? Where are you working? I assume you're working anyway. Are you still as lonely as I feel right now? I have friends, I know this. But I feel very distant from them. I feel very much as if they don't really want me around. Oh! Did you ever end up speaking to Alanna again?? God, I hope you did. I honestly think of them them so very, very much. I just — I want to BE them. Have you....met them? That would be incredible. I would honestly love to meet them so, so much. I would love to be proper friends with them. I want to know them. I have so, so much respect for them it's insane. I haven't spoken to them in a good few months though so, I mean, I don't know. If I'm in Melbourne though, I could drive (do you know how to drive??? I hope so) to see them in less than a day so maybe you've suggested it? Maybe they've suggested it? God, that would be a dream come true. (So, I guess it probably won't happen) But it would be AWESOME if you have your driver's license! And a car! How cool. I wouldn't have a clue how to choose a car, but between now and when you're getting this, maybe there will have been a clue in there somewhere. I would love to make long drives across Australia. Well, not across maybe, that's a long way. But to where Alanna is, sure! Or around there! Or up the coast! Or somewhere! I mean, cars are expensive so it probably couldn't happen for awhile, but still!! Are you still in contact with any of the people we did our a levels with? Are you still in contact with any of those teachers? It would be so cool if you still spoke to Ash. I want to be her as well. She's one of the most incredible adults I've met, I think. I love her. There we go — the classic, the queer person gets overly attached to her english teacher. Do you still identify as biromantic and ace? Have you dated anyone? I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't, honestly. I can't see why anyone would really want to date you. But it might be nice? Right now, I'm listening to the first episode of Season Nine of 'Making *** History'. It's the second time I've listened to it now. I love it. With my entire heart. I love Eric Marcus in the strange, abstract way you can love a stranger who you've neither met nor spoken to. What's life like? I hope you're happier than I am. Did I ever get that Brink Lit Internship? Lots of love, Your 17-year-old self