There are versions of ourselves we carry quietly—
not because they are broken,
but because they survived something we didn’t yet have language for.

This isn’t a confession.
It’s a letter.
Written from the other side of survival, to the girl who lived through it.

This is where I begin — not to reopen wounds,
but to acknowledge the versions of me that made it possible to be here at all.

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Dear Sweet Little Girl,

If only I could tell you how right you are to feel the way you do. How right you are about how wrong those things were.

Dear Confused Little Girl,

If only I could be there to guide you and help you make good, healthy decisions. Take time to care for you and teach you what good, healthy choices look like.

Dear Innocent Little Girl,

If only I could protect you from those who are going to take advantage of you. From those who are going to harm you. From those who are going to make you believe you deserve it.

Dear Tired Little Girl,

If only I could stand up for you. If only I could show you how much you matter and that you are worth fighting for.

Dear 10-Year-Old Little Girl,

If only I could make you believe that you are just a child, not an adult. You are good. You are worthy.

You did nothing wrong.

Dear Lost Little Girl,

If only I could warn you that you have a long, hard, and seemingly pointless road to travel. That you will become just like them and learn both sides of a story. And yet, that you will not stay like them — because this is just another lesson in who you are not.

Dear Hurt Little Girl,

If only I could reassure you that it is okay to not be okay. That feeling sad, angry, frustrated, and hurt is normal. That it is okay to point those feelings toward those who made you feel that way. That you do not have to carry the weight of what they have done to you. That you do not have to blame yourself for what they did or for their decisions.

Dear Hopeless Little Girl,

If only I could warn you that you will not escape abuse. You will see many years of it, in many different forms. You will allow it to continue because you feel like you deserve it. Because you just want someone to stay.

Dear Fragile Little Girl,

If only you didn’t have to be hurt. If only you didn’t have to be broken again and again.

Dear Resilient Little Girl,

If only I could skip to the end for you. If only I could show you that you will survive. You will learn your worth. You will love and be loved. You will stand up for yourself. You will heal. You will thrive. You will stay true to yourself.

They will not break you.

Dear Healing Little Girl,

If only I could soothe the emotional dysregulation. Take on the memories you have to relive. Hold you while you crumble. Lift your chin when it all seems hopeless.

Dear Grown-Up Little Girl,

Here we are. We made it.
We have had to fight for everything that we have.
We have had to heal wounds that we didn’t make.
We have had to pick ourselves up and discover our worth.
We have had to let go of expectations we have put on ourselves and others.
We have overcome all the obstacles that have been placed in our way.

Here we are. We made it.
Now it is time to move forward.
Live life with intention.
Love and be loved, without requirements.
Make moves without explanations.

Here we are. We made it.
No longer do we have to survive.
It is our time to THRIVE.

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– sorry NOT sorry –

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