Coffee Date With My Younger Self

I had coffee with my younger self today.

I was a little early – just to be safe, and she arrived on time.

She ordered a hot chocolate, I asked for a soy chai latte. She had never had one before, but when she said she wanted to try mine I let her, and she loved it. It's going to be her new go to.

While we waited for our drinks, she tried to whistle. I laughed and gave a failed attempt.

"Welcome To New York" by Taylor Swift started playing in the background, and we both mouthed along to the lyrics. It's her favourite song.

We both shifted between crossing, double crossing, and swinging our legs around under the table – even though it's a little weird.

I rested my shoe on hers, she didn't mind.

Her hair was down in a frizzy mess, but there were waves hiding in the chaos. She asked me how mine is so curly as she admired the long hair she's always wanted to have.

She told me about the solo that the assistant dance teacher did at their last concert, and how she wished she could do that someday. I told her I did a duet to that same song just a couple of years ago, and that I get to teach the little kids now. Her eyes lit up in awe.

I asked her how she felt about leaving Geelong to go travel. She said she was worried about leaving her friends.

Instead of telling her that we don't talk to those girls anymore, I started going on with stories about the amazing friendships I've found now. After I accidentally said a couple of names I had to change the subject.

When she said she thinks she'll miss her brothers a lot when she's gone, I just smiled and held her hand.

I didn't mention how hard it still is to only get to visit them every so often.

She asked if I still wanted to be a primary school teacher. I said of course.

Right before we were about to leave she told me not to forget about her.

We hugged and said goodbye.