An old flame's birthday card

Dear Woody,

I’m writing to tell you happy birthday. I know you left me a long time ago, but I think it’s time we moved past it. I know that you’ve moved on, and so have I.

When you left I thought that would be the end of me—I felt like I was dying; there was nothing left to kindle my energy. It felt like you had taken my life—the entirety of my existence and my future—with you.

But after you left something amazing happened. Someone happened to walk by and saw me lying on the ground, unable to move. They picked me up and took me home, turning what you saw as trash into something beautiful. The amazing part was the fact that they took the old me, and with a little time and patience, I became as beautiful as a diamond.

Where you used to tell me, “Oh Ashley, you’re so hot!”, now people pay thousands just to see me smile and shine in the sun.

But I don’t want this to be all about me—after all, it’s your birthday, not mine. But where you get rounder every year, I get more valuable. Just something to think about.

I know you left because you didn’t want to end up like me, but I’m writing to let you know, my past is nothing for me to be ashamed of—it’s how I became who I am today. Don’t be scared and run away from the fire—run into it! Take the leap—it’s worth the pain. Over time it’ll turn you into something rare and valuable—a diamond, like me.

Love,
Ash