Creative Writing Prompt #11

Jeremy,

Please don't be afraid, but... I am you in sixteen years. Now, the really strange thing is that you won't remember reading this letter in sixteen years. In fact, sixteen years from now, you'll be writing this very same letter again. To yourself at the age you are now. It doesn't make much sense, but that's the way it is.

Actually, a lot of things in your life for the next sixteen years won't make much sense. You know that girl who you had a crush on in third grade and now you're just confused about it all? That'll happen a few more times, but don't let it bother you: there's only one girl you'll want to marry, which will make things much less confusing.

And you know how you know who your close friends are and it doesn't seem like that will ever change? It will. A lot. And that won't always make much sense either. Some of your best friends will disappear completely. Some friends you saw as acquaintances will be the most dependable. Some friends that seemed to have disappeared will reappear much later.

And you know how you like to draw and write and create stories? Well, that will never go away, but you'll take an unexpected career path that cuts through math, insurance, editing, teaching, and software development. And then when you're afraid your melon is losing its creative juices you'll write a letter to yourself sixteen years into the past.

Like I said: things won't make much sense. But you're a clever little guy (please believe people when they tell you this) and I can say with more certainty than anybody else that you'll get through it all. You know that girl I mentioned that you'll want to marry? She lives in West Virginia (which turns out to be closer to Ohio than you'll realize), and this unexpected meeting will be the point in your life when the things that don't make much sense start be really wonderful.

Now, please, forget everything I've told you and go be yourself. The rest will come in time and through God.

Truly you,
Jeremy

PS: Here's another one that won't make much sense. In sixteen years you'll constantly forget conversations that happened mere hours earlier, but still remember the code to get 30 lives in the Nintendo game Contra.