Click the play button to hear me read this aloud to you.
She says, Your heart will break— and mend. Break— and mend. Again and again. She says, The gaze of another shouldn't be your only source of validation. I should know, I'm older than you. She says, The heaviest thing in a house is a scale. Throw it out. You will feel lighter when you do. She says, As a woman, it will often seem as if your body is meant for everyone else except you. That's bullshit. Be who you want, whenever you want, with whomever you want. You don't owe anyone anything. I should know, I'm older than you. She says, Keep your mind, your tongue, and your pencils sharp. Use your words— be heard. She says, If you look for a partner, find yourself first. Never allow anyone to hide you. I should know, I'm older than you. She says, Even if you have to stand on tiptoes to look your son in the eye, remember he will always be your baby. She says, Hug your mom as much as you can. You don't know which might be the last. I should know, I'm older than you. At 47, she says these things in her mind to her mother who only reached 29 and didn't get to experience enough life to offer this advice to her daughter herself. She says, I've missed you every day since I was 5. No, each passing year doesn't make the pain of you being gone hurt any less. No, time doesn't heal the wounds. I should know, I'm older than you.
I am 59 and yet little moi feels it in her bones. 🩵
You wouldn't have been known as "Kismet Kitty" on a Marvelous Message Board in the early aughts, by chance...?