I wrote each of the following letters very quickly to avoid over thinking. The results are raw windows into past relationships that, together, demonstrate how unique my love was for each different person.

1) Dear L,

You were my first love, and one I’ll forever cherish. Tough as it was, I stayed loyal to you through our 5 year long distance relationship. Telling you that I loved you was a huge deal back then, as it was something I’d never done before, and was only just beginning to understand. Some may call it puppy love, but my feelings for you were genuine.
To this day, I still keep our boxed relationship in my closet. I took one of your letters out recently, and the scent of your perfume still permeates on it. That single whiff brought back a slew of memories of our relationship. You’ve moved on but the truth is that I’ve not.

2) Dear J,

I loved you as a rebound, but loved you nevertheless. You put me through the wringer and led me on for years, but my deep feelings for you kept me in tow and I remained in your life. I meant all that I said to you at the time, but my anger at you now clouds any love that might have existed before. No manner of apologies from you can change what you put me through, and don’t expect us to be friends in future.

3) Dear B,

You kept me company during all those late nights studying together, and it didn’t take long before I fell for you. You arrived in my life at the right time, just as I was reeling in pain from the end of a dysfunctional relationship. Without a doubt, you were the hottest girl I’d ever been with, and seeing you always lit me up in so many ways. It was a pity that cultural differences got between us, for I feel like we made a good match together. I’m glad you’ve found someone that loves you, and wish you well.

4) Dear M,

I didn’t know what a Manic Pixie Dream Girl was until I met you. We had an amazing 4 month run together, during a tough part of both of our lives. I learned so much from you, getting to know myself better and facing challenges in life head on. I will forever remember all the impulsive things we did together, especially driving 100KM away at 1am just so you could feel sand between your toes. We may be friends now, but the truth is I’m not over you and it hurts me deeply seeing you with someone else.

5) Dear S,

The story of how our relationship began could have been plucked from a Malay drama. It felt too good to true, and as time did tell, indeed it was. I tried my very best to make things work, but it all just fell flat on my face in the end. Even so, it hurts me deeply that “we” did not work out, leaving me feeling like I’ve failed in a huge way. I feel like it should have, if not for me messing up hugely. We can probably never be friends, as my unrequited love will always be there, forever haunting me of what could have been. In my mind from the start, you were supposed to have been “the one”. I’m saddened that you aren’t.