There's really no reason for me to write this.

After all, it's not like I can go back in time so these words can actually be read by the person they're intended for. But I have a lot I want to say to you, so here goes nothing. I'd ask how you're doing, but I know better than anyone that whatever you tell me would be a lie. You've always had a tendency to do that, you know—to lie with a smile playing on your lips. Then again, I can't say I'm any different.

Here's the truth. You're unhappy. You've been unhappy for a long time, and it takes being trapped in your house for months for you to finally confront that fact.

Those hours you spend laying alone in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, turn into weeks in the blink of an eye. You realize you don't know yourself, that you don't feel comfortable in your own skin. You lose contact with people you considered friends prior to the pandemic. It suddenly dawns on you that they only really talk to you when you initiate it. Once you stop taking the first step, they fade away as if they were never there at all. And maybe they were never there—not really.

Things will get worse before they get better. But they do get better.

You'll drift away from the friends that didn't care for you, but drift closer to the ones who do. You'll research why you don't feel like you know yourself at all and learn some things that change you to your core. You'll open up to new people after shying away for so long.

You'll try new things, chase after new passions, and pursue new projects.

Remember how you've always loved video games? Well, I'm working on designing one now! Coding's tough, but I haven't been this excited about something in ages. I'm ready to claw my way over the learning curve.

In February 2020, I was trying to run away from how sad I was. In September 2020, I'm confronting those emotions and guiding myself towards moving past them.

It took being alone for months to identify the problem. Then, I found the solution—myself.

It took being alone for months to determine the difference between my friends and imposters. It took being alone for months to realize I'm in the closet. It's hard to believe so much can change in just a few months of isolation, but I couldn't be prouder of how far I've come in such a short time. I'll leave you to make all of these discoveries on your own, but before that, I want you to know that you're going to be okay.

Soon, you're going to be better than okay. I promise.

Once you reach the other side of this pandemic, however long it takes, I promise you're finally going to be happy. Everything's going to be just fine.