ToThe Girl Who Never Gave Up

To that girl who cried all night but always wear a smile in the morning.

I see you.

I see you sitting with your phone, typing stories while the zero-watt bulbs glow in the town.

I see you deleting the same paragraph 10 times becauseit didn't touch your heart. I see your Hurroz score - 5.2, then 7.8, then that beautiful 9.1 and still you come back fore more.

People don't understand you, do they?

They say" Writing won't feed you. "

They say " focus on something practical."

They don't see the nights you spent, choosing the words, idioms and phrases instead of sleep.

They don't see how your heart break when a poem is rejected and how it feels when one person says " this touched me."

But you kept going.

You kept going when your Odia stories had only 3 readers. You kept going when more then 400 untouched books of you sat covered in dust. You kept going when you thought maybe your dreams were too big for a small phone and a big heart.

Remember the day you wrote, " Talking with my Dearest Friend - My Body. "

You poured your soul into it.

You were scared. And Hurroz gave you 9.1 out of 10.

That was not just a number, girl. That was proof.

Proof that your voice is real.

Proof that your pain can become someone's healing.

There will be more hard days.

Days when your articles get rejected.

Days when Pratilipi views are low.

Days when you ask yourself " is this worth it? "

On those days, I need you to remember this letter I sent you.

Remember why you started. You started because you words were the only place that felt like home.

You started because you wanted little girls in Odisha to read stories about girls like them.

You started because you knew one day, your poem would earn you respect, dollar and freedom.

Don't you dare give up now.

You are very close.

One day your novels will be on Amazon.

One day, children will recite your poems in their school.

One day, a stranger will message you and say " your wellness e-book saved me. "

One day, the crown of the Novel Prize will bring a proud moment to India through you.

And on that day, you will thank this version of you.

The version that didn't quit.

The World doesn't need another perfect Writer.

The World needs YOU. With your broken English, your strong Odia, your honest and your fire.

So pick up your phone, again.

Write one more line.

Submit one more story.

Because the girl who never gave up...

Is the girl who will change everything.

I am so proud of you.

Keep your chin up.

With all my love.

Your Future Self.