A letter from Oct 28, 2023

Dear FutureMe, You’ll be reading this on your 20th birthday! Wow we actually made it to 20, I’m so proud I still remember thinking we wouldn’t make it past 10, then 12, then 13/14, now look at us we have our license, almost got our GP, and a Corporal!!!!! How has life been? We’re 17, didn’t ever think we’d make it to this point! Wow! Did we get the job at CottonOn like we hoped? How’s the turtle collection hope it’s going good. Did we get our Grand Prior, right now we’re only two badges away from it, 1 after these next few weeks!!!! How is Britt, Riley, Madi, Neisha and the rest of the gang? I hope you’re still friends with them! I’ll be really upset if we lost them! They mean the absolute world to us now! How’s your poetry going? Did you write the book like Dad always wanted you to? I’ll attach one of my favourite ones at the end so we can track our progress!! This is crazy that we have the chance to send emails to our future selfs! I hope you’re doing well my love! Did we end up moving? How is it? Did you get the car you wanted?? Or did you buy one yourself? I hope you get it! You were so excited when you saw it! I always thought I’d never buy a Ford but yet here we are looking at buying one 😂. Do you still like Hamilton, B99 and Criminal Minds? How’s Liam, is he doing ok? He’s been in Aussie almost a year now, I’ve seen him a few times since. How’s Dad, and Anne? I hope they are doing ok! It’s not been easy on any of us lately but we’ll get there in the end (I hope) I wish I could send photos with this email cause then we can see how much I’ve changed. I hope we get to be the person we wanted to be. Did we find out forever someone? Do we want to have kids now? I know that I don’t want any, but maybe you do? I hope you are going to be okay. I’m gonna send one of my poems as well so here it is: It’s called; Tell me Where it hurts Tell me where it hurts It used to be a simple question with a simple answer It was always a grazed elbow or a bump on the head I could point it out to you in a second But suddenly I grew up The pain became more like an ache that never went away It invaded every part of me I couldn’t just point it out to you because I’d have to show you my entire body I’d have to rip myself open, and show you my heart, how it’s been beaten black and blue I’d have to show you my soul how it’s filled with tiny little holes I’d have to show you my mind, how it’s going in circles constantly The pain it grew, It grew to be more pain than a scrape or a bump More than a cut or a bruise More than I could handle at such an age You asked me to tell you where it hurts But I can’t, because if I tried I’d end up in tears You asked me to point it out so I showed you my body You asked me how you can help I replied in screams and broken promises Tell me where it hurts I used to be able to show you in seconds; It used to be a simple question with a simple answer Now it’s like a tumour that constantly grows An ache that never leaves “Don’t forget to do what you love. Don't ever stop writing, scribbling or acting - even if no one appreciates, even if no one cares, at least you care. Find your own source of happiness." Happy Birthday Sweetheart! Love you loads, I hope you find abundance and peace in live! Happy 20th me 🥹🩵