Hello, Miriam...

... there's a letter for you.

Hey, My love

The elevator has finally stopped on a new floor. It's the 22nd floor and I just want to know if you are excited to be on this floor. Or are you frightened? What's going through your mind, my baby?

I know how much the 21st floor threw you here and there. All that rumble, all those ups and downs but guess what babe, you survived! You made it and here you are on another floor.

I did save reminders for you though. Reminders from the 21st floor I thought you'd love to look through and know how proud of you I am. Are you ready?

Do you remember how excited you were to finally be 21? Do you remember the song you sang that day when it clocked twelve in the morning? It was a beautiful gospel song because God is truly marvelous, isn't He? Can I watch you do that again?

Do you remember the strength you displayed when you lost Dad a few months after your birthday? I watched you reading on his vigil night and burial day; how you held yourself even though you were slowly breaking apart. How you allowed yourself feel all the emotions. You didn't invalidate any feeling, you felt it, you went through it and yes, your heart was badly broken but I've watched you pick it up piece by piece and although you are still learning to piece them all back together, you've done an amazing job so far.

I've watched you move on, I've watched you show up with a smile no matter what you are going through. I've watched you learn how to identify when something is wrong and you fix it right away. I've watched you learn how to accept you are wrong and accept corrections. I've watched you not give up. I've watched you show kindness when it mattered. I've watched you encourage others, never giving up on them. I've watched you stand up for yourself. I've watched you say ‘sorry’ when necessary.

Pheww, it has been a journey but I want you to know I love it, all of it.

I also have a few cringe moments to share with you. I don't just document the emotional part, right?

Remember how desperate you were to be loved by someone romantically last year? You thought 21 was your ‘must be loved by a man year.’ 😂

I watched you get into all those talking stages you didn't have any business going into and I laughed because I just knew.

Now, here you are, right. You've learnt that love comes naturally, willingly and slowly. You don't force it down your throat like paracetamol.

I'm glad you learnt to walk out of rooms you didn't need to be in. I'm glad you learnt to protect your peace first. I'm glad you learnt to prioritize your mental health more this year. It took a lot to get here but you did it, babe.

You know, I read somewhere that as someone grows older, they tend to love themselves deeper. It's true, my love. I've seen the smile on your lips as you look at yourself in the mirror. You've learnt to love you, Mimi and I'm sooo proud of you.

I want you to know that I love you. I love you to the moon and I'm not sure I'd come back because I love you too much. I want you to know that through every season, I'd be here to cheer you on, to tell you of how proud of you I am because look at you, babeee. Do you even know the wonders you'd do?

I want you to know that you are valued, by me, first of all. I want you to know that I could give you the world and it wouldn't still be enough because, my love, you deserve everythingggg.

You know what I realized the moment this elevator stopped on this 22nd floor? I'd tell you. I realized you, my babe, would have the best of this floor. You'd make the most of it too. I've seen the softness this elevator landed with. That quiet you felt as 13th walked into January's door? That's the softness I'm talking about. I just know it, my love. I'll not say the very popular “this year is your year” but here's what I'll tell you, baby, you just walked into a new chapter that would build you for excellence.

I love you, my baby and I wish you a beautiful experience on this 22nd floor.

I look forward to writing you again, my love. For now, adios and muahhh. 😘

Dedicated to Random Ramblings because he gave me the push.

Happy birthday in advance too, AJ. 😊