A letter from Jul 19, 2025

Dear Kristalen, Hi, love. I hope you’re not feeling the birthday blues this time. I know most of our birthdays—maybe even all of them—have been spent crying, quietly breaking down, or getting a little too drunk just to escape the weight we carry. You’re soft in all the ways the world needs. You’re thoughtful, kind, and beautifully human—even when you feel like you’re not enough. And I hope Nursing is treating you well, Tal. I know we once thought we’d be taking up Engineering and living in CDO by now. But God had other plans—He gave us signs, and we chose to trust Him. Maybe Nursing is really for us. Maybe this is exactly where we’re meant to be. Please, this time, try to spend your 19th birthday without the silent breakdowns—not the week before, not on the day itself, not even after. Be gentle with yourself the way you’re always gentle with others. Speak kindly to yourself. Rest when you need to. You deserve peace too, Tal. You always have. I love you. Happy 19th birthday, my love. We’ve been through so much—and I’m so proud of you. You’ve come so far. We’ve come so far. Let’s keep going. Padayon permi. With all the love in the world, —You