Dear, 

what an interesting way to normalize

addressing a letter to someone.  

according to the dictionary it means 

“regarded with deep affection” or 

“cherished by someone”.  

how lovely our world must be 

to deem every single individual 

worth writing a letter to as being 

cherished and loved by the writer.  

i do not like writing when I am not 

particularly emotional, 

i have noticed.  

it feels as though inspiration is 

entirely gone and I am clueless 

what to even express with my words.  

there is no passion, no voice.

yet, 

i suppose, 

when I wrote to him I felt as though 

i was writing entire novels.

do you remember the last time i wrote to him?  

i wrote on 24 pages, 

utterly exhausted, 

within the span of a few short hours.  

soaked in ink, 

my hand ached, 

blisters formed, 

my eyes grew fatigued, 

and I could not imagine 

loving anyone else 

for the rest of my life.

i like to write letters to my friends, 

letting them know how much i care about them

and how deeply grateful i am

for them to be in my life

i think one of the biggest regrets one can have

is not showcasing how deeply you appreciate someone

before it is too late 

i remember afternoons with my grandfather

watching Jim Carrey movies with him 

laughing while he ate pizza with a fork

not telling him how much he meant to me

sixteen years old, 

embarrassed by the thought of non-romantic love

only wanting boys, late night drives, booze,

never telling him I loved him

maybe when they were establishing the idea of letters

typical letter introductions and greetings

some 21 year old writer thought it would be a nice way

of introducing love into everyday messages

such as letters

when I first started journaling in high school

i hated the concept of writing to myself

i would write, addressed to a lover

someone who would read my letters earnestly

who would write them back and smile

they would take me out on dates and kiss my hand

open the door for me and dance with me in the rain

have I mentioned I hate dancing

and would never dare let my joy be tarnished by anything else

i was so utterly obsessed with the concept of having someone

because I hated the thought of being alone

not even realizing that I was someone

i was dear-

i am Dear.

Dear Deepali,

what an interesting way to normalize

addressing a letter to someone.