Dear Younger Me, The Love Letter I Owe the Parts of Me That Broke

The one who needed what I didn’t know how to give, I’m here now — and I’m not leaving

Photo by Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash

From the heart of now, to the version of me that waited through it all,

This is probably the most difficult letter I’ve ever written, but also most genuine, heartfelt and necessary —

I carried you like a ghost,
Until I discovered you were never gone, only waiting.
I missed you so loudly, but I went quiet.

Please know that now I see you.

Every hug you didn’t know you needed,
I can’t go back and give, but I always will, henceforth, until my last breath.
I hope that’ll make up for it.

Every time you felt unseen, unheard, to the extent that you learnt to suppress your voice, and never ask for help —
You were screaming in silence,
And now I hear you — fully, deeply, finally.
I see you, I’ve got your back.

I see all that you can be,
Not could’ve been; you’re just right where you need to be.