Growing up you always took care of me. You always protected me. You always stood up for me. Even though we are only six months apart, you always looked at me as your baby cousin. You loved me unconditionally, and were always there for me.
We aren’t kids anymore. For last year I have watched you destroy yourself. Mostly over a man that was never worth your time. He drove a wedge between us, and for awhile, not only did I lose my cousin, but my best friend as well.
He cheated on you. He hit you. He stole from you. He humiliated you. Then he left you with nothing. He left you broke. He left you broken.
He made you forget how amazing you are. He made you forget your worth. He made you forget how good and kind you are.
I want my cousin back. I want my best friend back. I wanted to protect you, like you had always protected me. But this is different than when we were kids. It’s different than standing up to a bully on the playground.
But I will still be here for you. I will help you pick up the broken pieces and put them back together. I will help you fall back love with your life. I will help you realize that good enough is not good enough when it comes to your happiness. That you deserve more than to settle.
I will remind you that you don’t have to be the same person you were ten years ago, a month ago, or even yesterday. You have the right to grow. You have the right to remove toxic people from your life. You have the right be happy.
I will remind you that people will speak a whole lot of words, but their actions will show you who they are every single time. People will hurt you and say it is out of love, but it’s not. It’s control.
I will remind you that you are worthy. I will remind you that you are enough. I will remind you that you are beautiful. I will remind you that someone will come along and love you and all your imperfections.
Until then, I will be here loving you and all your imperfections. I will love you when you are lonely. I will love you when you are angry. I will love you during your darkest times and try to bring light into your life.
I know it is hard. But I promise you, once you fall in love with your life, you will never settle for anything that takes that away from you.
You deserve to be happy again. And I will be here every step of the way.