Wow, you are almost 30. That's the most insane thing to think about right now since I am close to celebrating the year that removes me from being a teenager. Ten years is a lot of time to go by, and the more I think about it, the more hopes and dreams I have for you.
I have many questions. Do we have kids? Are they cute? What is your career? Did your books take off? How long have you been married? Do you remember the moment I wrote this to you? More importantly, are you happy?
At 19, you had already been through so much. You wanted to chalk the whole trauma up to a learning experience, but sometimes you had to label it what it was. I wonder if 10 years from now will this still hurt as bad as it does now? Will I still think about it?
I envy you, which is stupid, I know, since I will be you in ten years, but I just know that life is going to go up from where it once was. You gave away yourself only to have it ripped into pieces on purpose, but God helped you stand back on your feet and find a better happiness out of the ashes. Do you still remember how it felt to lay in bed and wonder how things went so bad?
OK, I know that you will remember your first tattoo. I mean, it is still on your foot since they are permanent. The needle sound was much worse than the actual pain and at the end of the day, you got a souvenir put on your body to remind you that you are a strong woman. I hope you have more tattoos like that.
Please still tell me that you are writing. Books, poetry, short stories, you are good at them. I know you hate patting yourself on the back, but you are. Writing is second nature to you and I beg you to never let it go.
I know you have love. I know you are holding it close and I beg you to never let a good thing go. You are so good at being independent, but it's okay to let someone take care of you too. I hope married life is treating you well and that you are finally the wife you know God called you to be.
Ten years is a long time from now. Ten years will go by so fast and so much will change, but I know how hard you work when it comes to improving yourself. So, I have faith that in the woman you are. I have faith that she is gentle and loving with a heart as wide as the ocean.
I will see you soon.