Sweet Child
A conversation with me and my future self
Before we get started, I want to thank imi for giving me and many of her other subscribers such a wonderful prompt that I was so gladly able to engage with. Being, ‘write an encounter between the self you are now and the self you want to become.’ If you aren’t subscribed to imi, her writing is deeply emotional and relatable in a very profound way. I would very much recommend giving her a shot, as I think her writing is required reading for anybody. Definitely go subscribe to her once you’re done reading this! You may also be able to participate in her future prompts that she’ll post in the subscriber chat.
I decided to give dialogue writing a try for the first time. Future Rey’s lines are italicized for emphasis.1 It lacks action, though I have procrastinated this paper for too long now.2 It‘s like, I just want to get my post out there at this point. Anyways, happy reading… :)
Rotting in bed on a Sunday evening, a mysterious lookalike of myself gently pulls me out of my bed…
Future Rey: Hello there, precious child!
Rey: H-hey! Where did you come from?
Future Rey: Oh sweet child, do not worry about that!
Rey: O-okay… fine then… what do you want?
Future Rey: What is with the attitude? I’m not here to attack you.
Rey: I know you’re not. You kind of just came out of nowhere. Like you… teleported or something.
Future Rey: Yeah, maybe I did. Don’t worry about that, kid.
Rey: O-okay…
Future Rey: Listen, I’m here to help you, kiddo.
Rey: With what exactly?
Future Rey: Well, I’ve noticed that you haven’t been going through the best of times lately. I’m here to share a message with you.
Rey: I’ll hear you out.
Future Rey: Okay, listen to me.
Rey: I’m listening…
Future Rey: It may not look like it, but you are in such a wonderful position in life right now!
Rey: Why do you say that, when my entire life is so miserable?
Future Rey: I don’t know who keeps putting that in your head…
Rey: I-
Future Rey: You are so perfect the way you are!
Rey: T-thanks, I guess?
Future Rey: You know, Rey, I wish you would look at yourself the way I and many others see you!
Rey: …
Future Rey: Don’t let the haters make you think badly of yourself.
Rey: My biggest enemy is my internal demons.
Future Rey: Shoot… I know that feeling. I’ve been battling those demons my entire life. And still am. They will calm down eventually.
Rey: They won’t go away!
Future Rey: Yeah, dude, they won’t ever go away fully. If you can shut them up just a little each day, that goes a long way.
Rey: I’ll try…
Future Rey: Also, your life is only getting started. It’ll only get better from here on out.
Rey: That’s what they always say…
Future Rey: Yes but they are right, trust me.
Rey: Ugh. Life just looks so bleak.
Future Rey: Sweet child, I understand that. When I was your age, I thought the same thing. I never thought life would get any better. Look at how much I’ve had to battle through just to get to where I am today. I thought I would always be a depressed soul who would burn sometime in my 20s. Now I am operating better than I ever have, coming out of retirement in my 60s.
Rey: I appreciate your words. Can I ask one last question?
Future Rey: Sure!
Rey: What advice do you have for me going forward?
Future Rey: Always find the joy in the little things. Seek happiness in opportunities. Find the good in the bad. And most importantly, have fun. Be yourself. Have confidence in yourself.
Rey: I will try my best. Thanks for the advice!
Future Rey: Of course, sweet child! I should get going now.
Rey: Aww okay. Will you be back?
Future Rey: Of course! I look forward to our next meeting! Love ya kiddo!
He would then disappear… until next time…
I’m not joking when I say i was stuck on the same line for like three days… lmao!
Really, I am too lazy to edit the italicized text, even if it only would take a minute to do so. I also think it gives the character a bit of juice.
Incredible <3
Very cool. I may give this a try.