Dear younger, brokenhearted self,

Looking back, I wish you knew what you knew now. I wish I could go back and tell you that everything is going to be all right in a few years. There's more to life than this boy that you thought you loved and you're going to find that out soon, so just hang in there. There's so much I would tell you, so let me begin.

When he breaks your heart, you're going to think the world is over. You're going to cry and be angry and you're going to take it out on people that you love. You're going to be so mad at the world because you feel unlovable, but you are so incredibly loved and I wish you saw that sooner. I wish I could tell you to stay strong but also to stay soft. Do not let him breaking your heart let you put up that giant wall to the world like you're about to. It's easier to be angry and turn your back on everyone and everything you love, to recoil into yourself and shut everything out, but don't. Do not let this dark time make you hard. Let it make you soft because there's so much good out there and caring means that you have a beautiful heart. Don't forget to show the world your heart, no matter how hurt it is right now.

It's okay to be sad and to cry. Do not think that you have to put on a brave front or show him that you never really cared all that much. It's okay to care and it's okay to be hurt. It's okay to cry at sappy movies because you think you lost the love of your life. You didn't, but it's okay to think that for right now. It's okay to mourn losing who you thought was your best friend. Grieve. Take your time in grieving and take your time in healing. It is not worth going out there and falling into a pattern of moving on too quickly. It will only cause you more pain in the long run. Take time to heal and to become yourself again. After all, being yourself is the most important thing in the world. Do not be someone else because of this heartbreak. Cry, scream, mourn, grieve, but then heal. Give yourself permission to take all of the time you need to heal, as healing is what will make you 'you' again.

The most important thing to remember, and please do not ever forget this: just because he doesn't love you, doesn't mean you're not worthy of love. It's easy to feel lost and like you aren't deserving of love. It's easy to think that because he doesn't love you, you're worthless, but it could not be further from the truth. Just because he couldn't love you the way you deserve to be love - the way you were meant to be loved - does not make you unlovable. And just because he didn't love you doesn't mean that you will never find love again. You will, I promise. You will find an even better love, a more deserving love, a love that lights you up inside and out. You will find happiness and this heartbreak will help lead you to it.

I wish I could go back and give you a big hug. I wish I could go back and try to make you see all that you are and all that you are worthy of. I wish I could go back and help you to understand that life is a beautiful thing and you deserve to experience all of it, even some of the bad parts like you're feeling right now. I wish I could go back and tell you that you are justified in feeling everything that you are feeling and that once you begin to heal, you will realize how amazing you have always been.

You'll get through this and in the future, you will be really proud of the woman you have become.