Dear Ace at 14,

I know right now, life sucks. I know you are tired. I know that right now, you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I see the hurt in your eyes and the fresh scars on your arms. I hear your cries when you’re alone and I hear your prayers begging God to just get you through this. You think you are weak, but you are the strongest person I know. You crave to be just like everybody else but I love that you aren’t. You desperately just want to disappear into the shadows, but that’s not you… you were meant to stand out. In fact, one day… you will be loved for the things they hate about you. You will find your place and you will find your people– you will be successful, you will make an impact on others lives, and best of all, you will be happy. You haven’t been happy for so long that “happy” doesn’t even seem plausible… but I promise you, it comes. It comes every morning when you wake up next to the woman of your dreams, it comes in fetch every morning with a dog you treat like a real-life baby, it comes in the form of acceptance of who you are, it comes from that feeling everytime you help someone struggling, it comes from the burning passion you have for your craft, it comes from self-discovery and growth, it comes every night when your head hits the pillow knowing you gave that day all you had… it comes every single day, in the tiniest of moments, in the most monumental ones, and every moment in between. You are strong and you will get through this– in a few months, when everything goes dark, don’t ever stop looking for the light, don’t ever quit swimming for the shore, don’t you ever give up, because I promise you, one day… happiness will come. I am so incredibly proud of you.
Love always,

Ace at 27

ABOUT THE ARTIST 

I am a portrait photographer who dabbles in the occasional wedding based out of Phoenix, AZ. I have a serious heart-on for teaching and mentoring– they have become a huge part of who I am and where I am going in the past year. My wife is my best friend in the entire world and is just as much a part of my business as I am. I enjoy being a hermit and getting overly invested in the lives of the Real Housewives. I am pretty overweight but dance like a stripper who’s got some serious bills to pay. I stick my foot in my mouth constantly and I can be a bit too honest, but life is too short to beat around the bush.

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