Dear “You”,

I’m not going to label you and I as the same. In fact, we’ve grown so far apart that I don’t even see a resemblance. There’s so much to say and so much that has been learned. But a couple things have stayed the same.

You are beautiful. You might not see it now, but you are. You will see the light reflecting in someone else’s eyes and realize that you are the cause of it. You will find your beauty in the moments when you recognize all of your hard work has paid off, and you did it all by yourself. One day, you will look in the mirror and see that your body is not flawed, but a masterpiece.

You are kind. Always putting others before yourself. Never questioning a single gesture to make someone else’s day a bit brighter. Your individuality makes you unique, but sometimes, you don’t quite see it that way.

You are strong. Moments in life have passed so quickly; you blinked an eye and they were gone. You missed them because you were too focused on keeping yourself together. Too focused to put your problems aside and live. You dealt with them and moved on so they wouldn’t linger into your future.

You will no longer seek attention in young boys who want nothing more than to harm you. You will soon realize relationships are not a game, there is no other intention than to love and receive it in return.

You won’t wish to impress others as much as you once did. You are not content in your skin, but you will learn to grow and embrace yourself.

You will place yourself in every new situation with a fresh start. It is never a bad time to begin again and recreate what once caused you anguish.

You did not have as many friends as you might have hoped, but this is only because you are so rightfully different from everyone else your age. Learn to embrace it, and the optimal friendships will come eventually. It is okay to accept that people who were once a huge part of your life will leave. Depending on the circumstances, you probably don't want them back anyways. Moving on is always a good thing, I promise.

You will learn that it’s okay to have different opinions from your peers. After all, no two minds think exactly alike. You don’t need to conform to their ideals to be accepted.

You have a voice. It might be weak and meager at the moment, but it will bloom like a flower. That flower, which was once held by a thin stem and withered petals, is now a symbol of hope. A sign of new beginnings and prosperous futures. A symbol of who you were and who I am. You and I, we’ve both suffered through the harsh winters and the cold rains, but we have made it into the sunshine.

We have created something together, bonded by a four letter word so often referred to as "Love."