dear basil,

a name is
yours

not the mouth that
refuses to say it

love,
basil

dear basil,

please start drawing again
singing again
please start loving again
and living again

please start writing again

<3,
basil

dear basil,

watch the sunrise
remember how lucky you are to see it
smell the morning air
keep it in your lungs because you can
water your plants
show them unconditional love

love yourself unconditionally
because you're lucky, because you can

love,
basil

dear basil,

i know long distance is the bane of your existence
and you feel like the only person that understands you is
more than 1000 miles away
(maybe that's true)

i also know that you are cursing yourself at 3am
for wanting to be held
thinking that means you are toxic and codependent
but it's OKAY to want love
(i promise)

it's okay to cry yourself to sleep sometimes
because loving across distance is hard and painful
as long as you pick yourself back up in the morning
do your skincare routine, feel beautiful
sing to yourself, be whimsical
smile at strangers, wear your heart on your sleeve
(your heart is not broken, just tired)

but you can do it
live in text messages and phone calls
write letters, send care packages
until you can kiss his soft lips goodnight
every. single. night.
(it will be worth it)

(i promise),
basil

dear quinn,

goodbyes are hard
but staying will be harder
just let go

it's okay

love,
atlas

dear basil,

regret is useless
learn the lesson and move on

blow out the candle next time
don't go to auditions alone ever again
call your friends more
live outside of your head sometimes

don't wait for her to find someone else
because you're scared of rejection

make a wish before you blow out your birthday candles
write down that thought stuck in your head
don't wait until 10 pm to start that movie on a school night

but it's okay if you want to turn back time a little
just as long as you learn why

love,
basil

dear basil,

i promise i'll go to sleep soon
as long as you promise you'll smile at me
if you see me in public

i swear i'll fix my posture
if you swear to celebrate your birthday this year

and i pinkie swear that i'll love you
if you always love me back

forever,
basil

dear basil,

just because a feeling doesn't go away
doesn't make it valid

persistence means nothing if it's going the wrong direction

love,
basil

dear quinn,

it's okay
to tell people

how to make
you feel
okay.

they'll call you
by the right name
and the right pronouns.

and if they don't,
they will have lost
a part
of what it is
to be
human.

and that isn't
your fault.

love,
quinn

dear basil,

you don't have to be in pain
to talk to me </3

i want to hear about your
good days
too

love,
basil

dear basil,

stop.
look up.
your flowers
are growing.

don't miss it.

love,
basil

dear basil,

the future is a social construct
i know people are ***** about it
but it's going to be okay

give yourself time

<3,
basil

dear basil,

happy easter :))
just one more year
dealing with your parent's
religious *******

don't get too mad
it's like that hypnosis said
"if it is anything negative
you will physically and emotionally feel nothing
it will be like watching a movie
and if it is effecting you in this life
you will be able to see it, and let it go"

of course, he was talking about
past life regression

but this is really just a past life waiting to happen

love,
basil

dear basil,

maybe it does cost
$0.00 to be a
"good person"

but for some reason
it is a whole lot easier to be
"nice"
when you can afford to be
"alive"

so
shut up

love,
basil

dear atlas,

tw// language

just.
*******.
call.
her.

JUST.
*******.
CALL.
HER.

justfuckingcallher.

you want to talk to her.
so,
just ******* CALL HER.

i love you, but you need to stop being a *******.
love you. *******.

-atlas

dear basil,

this isn't about christmas,
though i hope you have a good one.

this is about crying.
or more like
how you don't.

i would say i don't want you to
but i know you.
and your eyes are my eyes.
so i need them to cry.

if they won't cry for her
let them cry for me.
cry for the me you lost
cry for the you that you can't find
cry for the person in the mirror
who doesn't ******* deserve this

because you don't.

YOU DON'T ******* DESERVE THIS.

just because your bruises are healing
doesn't mean that your skin is okay.

it's cracking.
you're cracking.

break open.

love,
basil

dear basil,

tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
are all spelled the same

so why wait for a different number?

you don't need a new year
to be a new person

you just need one moment

love,
basil

dear atlas,

don't forgive,
just forget.

love,
atlas

dear atlas,

it's okay to text
twice in a row.

just thought
you should know.

love,
atlas

dear quinn,

a magic eight ball
will never
tell you how
to be okay.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

you have
every right
to push  
people away.

but that doesn't mean
you have to.

it doesn't make it better.

i would know,
quinn

dear quinn,

breathe.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

you can't stop
playing the
violin
because
you're afraid
of breaking the
strings.

and you can't stop
talking
because
you're afraid
of pushing people
away.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

looking for something
to fill you up
only leaves you
more empty.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

you made it
to twenty
even though
you never thought
you would.

that's Something.

you're Something.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

it
is
okay
to
ask
for
help

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

turn your music
down a little.
look up from the
ground a little.
throw up your arms and
smile a little.

you're alive.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

stop making
justifications.

your life
isn't a
list of
excuses.

it's a bucket list.
and it has a
time limit.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

love is
a two way
street.

but if you're
the only one
driving,

at least enjoy
the scenery.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

turn your music
off
for a minute

and make
your own

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

missing people
*****.

but you miss them
because they
matter.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

can you please
listen?
just for a
second.

i know you want
to brush it all off.
and pretend
that you aren't
hurting.

but you have to
listen to me.
you can hurt.
you do hurt.

give yourself time.
but more
importantly.

give yourself the
truth.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

you feel needy.
and you think
that it's a
bad thing.

needing people
to help
you be okay
isn't a
bad thing.

it's human.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

i know
that you are
scared.

i know that
you just want
to keep quiet.
and let your life
be a story
written about
you.

but it has to be
a story you
write.

love,
quinn

dear basil,

the past is
not a tattoo

love,
basil

dear quinn,

it's hard
to feel
everything.
especially when
everything
hurts.

but feeling
nothing....

that's like pouring
out your coffee
because it's too hot.

blow on it, and wait.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,
i know that everything
is spiraling
out of control.
i know that you
aren't okay.

but i also know
that you will
get up after you
fall.
and i know
that your now
is not your forever.

with love,
quinn

dear quinn,

one good day
doesn't mean
you're cured.

i know you
want
it to.

but this ****
takes time.
it won't
go away
just because
you have
one good day.

so.
stop lying.
i don't want
you to
delude yourself.

again.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

sometimes
it isn't
your fault.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

if i could just
show you
how much you
mean,
i would do it
in a
heartbeat.

but even if
i could,
you need to
see
it.

so. open. your. eyes.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

YOU
DESERVE
LOVE

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

you can have
good days

without being
good.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

to be alive
is to be
tired.

drink your coffee,
put on your smile,
and pretend
that life doesn't
**** the marrow
out of your bones.

just like everyone else.

love,
quinn

dear quinn,

people aren't
perfect.
after all
they aren't
machines.

you aren't
perfect.
and that's
okay.

love,
quinn