A love letter to my 13-year-old emo self:

Hello there, the angel from my nightmare. Well, you’re not quite a nightmare, you are actually quite lovely. I do love you, you know—I just thought I’d add a Blink 182 lyric in the hope that our forgotten bond might re-emerge once more.

Despite the embarrassment you continue to cause me, there are many things I will eternally appreciate about you. I love your conviction, and your ever-changing, bold aesthetic. It’s carefree and cool, in a, kind of, ethereal way. I can picture it in my head right now: ripped fishnet tights with a floral design and high waisted shorts paired with a slogan tee and rip-off Docs—you can’t afford the real deal. You really are a precious soul. I know that you’re a tough gal, and it sure takes guts to use an eyeliner pencil from the drugstore day in day out when you don’t even own a sharpener. For that, you are owed my undying respect, even though your mum hated the panda look. Keep on being you, for I will love you forever.

I love your enthusiasm, and how you find joy in the smallest things. Reminiscing fills me with joy sometimes. I am thinking about that time you got excited when Gerard Way dyed his hair bright red. That was pretty exciting. I urge you to always find fulfilment in your fangirl life if it makes you happy, even if others shoot you down for it. The endless doodles of band logos in your junior school geography notebooks symbolize your faith in what you love. You have a talent, so make sure you nurture it. I will watch you flourish.

You have helped me along the way and even helped me grow as a person, and you deserve all the love from the bottom of my soul. Although, sometimes I look back at your actions as “immature” or “completely unnecessary,” I love you for the lessons you have taught me: Ignore the bullies, be yourself, stand up for what you believe in.

l love how, despite wallowing in sadness for so long, you still managed to carry on each day. You may not love yourself, but be assured that I will always love you, so Look Alive, Sunshine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJdyKH8yEcg (Two pop-rock song lyrics in one letter show the lengths I’ll go to win your approval.)

You continue to remind me that I still have a tiny bit of “emo” left inside of me, and I hope the spark we have will never burn out.

Love from,
Your 17-year-old, kinda-still-emo self.

—By Katie H., 17, Belfast