I was inspired by Coffee with My Younger Self by Jennae Cecelia and wanted to jump on this trend.

So, I sat down with the version of me who needed to hear what I know now. The girl who felt unseen, who carried more than she should have, who thought she had to laugh instead of break.

This is for her. And maybe, in some way, for you too.

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I met my younger self for coffee this morning.

She was early. She always wanted to escape the house that never felt home. I was on time.

She ordered a chocolate milkshake hesitantly, unsure if she was allowed to want something sweet. I ordered an iced matcha latte, a small act of kindness she never knew to give herself.

She wore an old T-shirt and jeans, her hair piled into a big bun, tugging at her sleeves trying to disappear. I wore a blazer and heels, my hair cascading to my shoulders, worn loose, worn proud standing tall in the space I’ve fought to claim.

She said she didn’t belong anywhere. I told her I’ve built a life where I do.

She asked if people still take credit for my successes and if I still feel like I’m never enough. I told her I define my own worth now and no one else gets to write my story.

She said she would never be free. I told her I live in a city I chose, studying, working, thriving, and building a future on my own terms.

She laughed not because it was funny, but because that’s what she thought she had to do. I met her gaze, steady and knowing. “You don’t have to pretend anymore,” I said. I told her to hold on and that the life she dreams of is better than she thought, that she will make it out, and that she is so much stronger than she knows.

There is hope! Even when it feels like the world is against you, when you can’t see a way forward, your future is waiting.

Keep fighting. Keep believing.

Love,
Annie x

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I’ll be doing a vlog soon with a poem I wrote inspired by this, so keep an eye out! Make sure you’re following me on Instagram and YouTube so you don’t miss it. See you there! ✨