Soliloquize (verb): to talk to yourself

Hey! How are you doing?! I got so many birthday presents this year and oh my goodness, I’m still shaking as I record this!

But I’m more curious about you. Are you still going to bookstores with Sarah on Saturday nights? I sure hope you are, because I’m going again tomorrow. Ooh, and what about that cute transfer student? Are you guys dating…? Hehe.

Ahh. I’m really excited to know what’s going on. You must’ve seen so many cool things throughout the year; like, Mom literally planned a trip to the mountains but we’re not going until summer break… You have to tell me all about it, okay?

And me? Hmm, you probably already know what’s up, so I’m not gonna waste time talking about that. But one thing I have to say is: don’t forget about me, your old self! That would be terrible, haha! Oh well, I’ll see you next year!

The video ended. Silence.

She frowned deeply at the pure joy and anticipation in the video, her own heart yearning to feel those positive, colorful emotions again. Her younger self sounded so excited for the future, yet her current self only wanted to return to the past.

A good-natured sigh escaped her throat.

Gently, she turned on her phone camera and began to speak with a voice as soft as a feather. With the year replaying before her eyes, she carefully told her old self about the end of her lifelong friendship, the breakup of her boyfriend, and the mountain trip that ended up getting canceled when her grandmother died.

“...Yeah, it’s a monstrous year,” she sighed with regret. “You’re gonna struggle so much, but trust me. It’ll be okay. You’re strong. You’ll get through it.”

With the words she had been wanting to hear, she ended her birthday recording to her past self.