To Grady, From Grady:a Broken Records extra

(This was originally a guest post on Molly Lolly, a letter from Grady to himself five years ago.)

Dear Grady 5 years ago,

First of all, yes you still have all of your hair. I knew that would be your first question. Second, I’m not gonna tell you how or when but you’re getting ready to be successful beyond all of your wildest dreams. You’re also getting ready to make a lot mistakes because of that success, but I’m not telling you about that either. You have to walk through it to become me, and as hard as it was (will be?) we had to do it. The thing I do want to tell you is that you’re going to meet that person you’ve been waiting for. The one you dream about. The one you think you’ll never find because right now you still can’t believe that anyone will find you worthy of loving or sticking around for. You are worthy. But you’ll learn that the hard way soon enough. For now, on those nights that you find yourself alone in the dark, wondering if that’s where you’ll always be, you should know this: He’s so beautiful. He kisses you like the only thing that exists in the whole world is your mouth on his mouth, and it is. He stays.

Keep your chin up kid,

Future Grady.