Unsaid

Seven.
The clock struck seven and I knew it was time to wake up. As I pulled the curtains open, it seemed like any ordinary day. But in many ways, it was not.
You see, had I woken up to this day a year ago, or even seven months ago, it would seem perfectly normal. That’s the thing about going back to a familiar place – it suddenly seems entirely unfamiliar. I should have maybe invested time in writing a How-To guide for my future self to find her way around. Maybe it would go something like this.

Dear future lost soul,

Nope, time travel hasn’t worked. Your lazy ass just found this letter hidden in that messy cupboard of yours. Seriously, get your stuff together – this advice is now officially coming from a kid. But that’s okay, I am wiser than you are. If you recall correctly, I just watched Dead Poets Society for the 241096th time before I began writing this, so I refuse to believe that you are any cooler than me.

Wait, that was not the point of this letter, was it? Oh right. Let me tell you how to get around this place – you’ll need some expert (me, duh!) advice. For starters, you may think you know this place but neither will you remember the sun rays shining through the window as I see it now, nor will you recall the perfectly placed pair of glasses on the table, with the lingering aura of the movie engulfing me as vividly as I feel it here and now. Sure, you may have more experiences than me or whatever, but this is my forte darling.

So let me tell you, this place will always have a parking space reserved for your Vespa, will have a pair of Manchester United shorts just for you, and it will always hope you “have a nice day”. But it will also evolve. You may not recognise some things anymore, but you will always be fondly remembered. The memories you made here will last you a lifetime, and if you ever come back, nothing I can tell you will be enough. But you already know that. Which is why this letter does not exist.

I can offer but one simple word of advice – if you are lost, remember to look for the signs. If all else fails, fries and wedges at midnight help more than you think.

P.S. You will forever need adult supervision.