Dear me,

This is you fifteen years into the future. I feel hesitant to write this because I know what a curious soul I am and the burning questions you would raise---I would raise if I had to read this as a fourteen-year-old. Needless to say, you've done well for yourself. I'm glad you succeeded in your ambitions and your aspirations have turned to achivements. Failure has not deterred you, nor hopelessness deferred your dreams. But there is one matter I feel I must warn you about before you make the same mistake I did and lose your belief in love forever---and that is a matter of the heart.

I---you are a hopeless romantic. I know because I was. Probably still am. Always falling for the wrong guys, the ones with wayward hearts, good looks, bad grades and a disregard for rules safeguarding life. It's natural, falling for the gilded lilies of this world. But in reality, dear me, we are falling for the thorniest roses of the soil. And once the petals fall off, all that's left are the pricks of the thorns and us bleeding at the heart. I want to spare you that before it happens.

There may be such a thing as the first love being the last love. I do not know for sure because I never found my first love again though many years have past. You know who I mean. The sweet, tender-hearted, mild-mannered little boy you once fell in love with. The adorable little dancer you shared your first waltz with as a child. I still wonder whatever happened to him. But my advice? Don't stay hung up on him. He may or may not ever return in your life. He hasn't yet in mine. That may be my fault though as I never attempted to find him. I got swept away in infatuated romances since then. But if he does return, dear me, don't let him go again. He may have been the one. And who knows? He may be nearer than you think.

My word of advice to you---dear me, DO NOT fall for the bad boy. Yes, the one who gets away with everything, the one with the slick way with words, deadly good looks, and seductive good manners. He's not life partner material no matter how much you dream about him. And you will, believe me. Don't have your eyes opened when he flirts with some snotty beauty queen. Save yourself years of heartache. Teenage years can be so dangerous and I wish I could have protected myself back then. As now.

They say the third love is the last love. I haven't met our third love yet. But when I do, I hope to satisfy your little heart, having finally met,

The Love that is Waiting for You.

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