Dear Little Me,

You’re a pretty energetic child. You should really know by now that Mum is aware you’re lying when you tell her you’ve brushed your teeth while your little green toothbrush sits nice and dry in the bathroom ... one day you’ll realise that lies only cause confusion and it’s not worth fibbing to your own mother. And green will still be your favourite colour.

You like to write stories in that little notepad with the pink cover, don’t you? That’s right; you’ll still have it in the years to come. It’s more precious than you know. You’ll write better stories one day, and your spelling will improve. It takes time. Who knows? You’re probably on your way to becoming a real author, kiddo (I’m still not sure about that one).

Eventually you’ll realise that the world is bigger than you, that Michael Jackson wasn’t always the cute little boy you hear in your treasured Jackson 5 album, and that, to your disappointment, you can’t marry your brother. Sure, he’s the best boy in the world, but it’s just not how it works. And I know this will be a shock to you ... but he’s going to be very close to death one day. You’re going to stand in that hospital ward waving to him while a pane of glass separates you. You’re going to sit on the edge of his bed watching his chest rise and fall mechanically as he breathes with the support of a machine, his eyes closed; alive and yet not quite living. And you’re going to see him come home. Everything will be alright again.

But.... Well, there’s a bigger shock coming for you. This is one you don’t think about too much. He’s going to grow up, go to university, and come home with a girl on his mind.

Of course, he still loves you. It’s just that he loves her too.

It won’t be as bad as you think.

You’re going to become a musician, could you have guessed? I know you hate those piano lessons. But you’ll find solace in those black and white keys someday, and you’ll have a guitar with a big black case just like you’ve always dreamed of. You’ll also realise that the guitar is more important than the case.

Now, there’s one more thing left to tell you. You will have friends, and you will lose them. Somehow the memories that mean everything to you never meant a thing to them. They will forget, and you will hold on. But God is your friend, your ally, and though you will fall, He will always have your hand in His.

(Did I mention that there’s going to be a worldwide pandemic and you’re nearly going to run out of ... actually, never mind. You’ll find out.)

Sincerely you,

From the future.