Dear Kai,

Right now, as I write this, I’m looking at photos from when we were younger. we’re at Disneyland, posing with Geppetto. I don’t remember this day, but a bright smile pushes its way through the fullness of your cheeks. Your eyes swim with an innocent curiosity for the world around you, free from judgement and shame.

I’ve been stuck for weeks trying to write this letter. Starting, stopping, crying, then starting again. I’m wondering what to tell you, what spoilers to give, and what surprises to keep, searching for the perfect words to tell you that you’re gonna be okay.

I know that you have these feelings inside of you—feelings that you don’t think you’ll ever be able to share. You’ll feel scared and confused about what they mean, afraid of speaking up and disappointing the people who love you, terrified of what they’ll think or what they’ll say. You’ll lock these feelings away, running from who you are and imagining impossible expectations for yourself that don’t really exist.

Eventually, you’ll realise that this is no way to live. The fear of losing yourself in the performance of a façade will outweigh the fear of losing everything else. One day, you’ll find your voice. Slowly but surely, you’ll start letting people in, inviting them to know the real you. Pretty soon, you’ll have built a network of incredible people who love and support you for all that you are. Through the highs and lows, they’ll stick with you. All you need to do is trust in yourself. Be courageous. Listen to your heart, not your head.

You are not too much. You are not too little. You are worthy and deserving of love. You are enough.

I’m not going to say we have it all figured out yet. We certainly don’t. At twenty-one, we still have many years of growth left ahead of us. Some days, you’ll still be hard on yourself, shrinking under the weight of expectation. Old habits die hard. But on other days, you’ll find peace, you’ll find joy, and you’ll find love. Authenticity will become your greatest superpower, and you’ll take back that bright smile you were so afraid of losing.

Yours in pride, Kai