Dear Liam Aiken,
I am a senior in high school in a town of no consequence in Colorado. On August 19th of this year, I started a year-long blog project entitled “365 Days of Bri” to rediscover myself. I’ll add the details at the end of this letter, but for now I’ll just explain your part. Every day of the week I have a different task to do, at once I’ve completed it I have to write about the experience in the blog. On Sundays like today, my task is to write a thank you letter to someone I’ve never met. For reasons I will explain shortly, you made the most sense to start off with.
When A Series of Unfortunate Events came out, I was in 6th grade. The transition from elementary school was less than smooth, especially in regards to any form of social life. To be frank, I was miserable, and in the next two years it was only going to get worse. But luckily, I developed a giant celebrity crush on you. Although I guess this letter is more of a thank you note to the Liam Aiken I invented inside my head, I figure I might as well extend the thanks to my imaginary friend’s likeness as well.
Throughout those agonizingly long three years of middle school, the only way I stayed even remotely sane was to imagine some sort of complicated plot that involved the two of us staring in a movie together and falling in love. When school or friendships got stressful, I’d immediately zone out and continue on whatever story line I was currently following. It calmed me down, gave me an escape from the life I so dreaded.
Even now, as a high schooler, I sometimes resort to inventing a new storyline for “our” love. Although I’m no longer quite so codependent on your image, it’s still nice to have you there, in my head, to allow me to get my life back in order. When I focus on you, I go socially numb. The latest in “Bri and Liam’s Epic Love Story” clouds over my real social life, allowing me to concentrate completely on school and things that will actually matter later in life.
As strange as this entire letter probably sounds to you, thank you for lending your image to my psychosis. I wish you well for your future endeavors and hope that you might even take the time to reply. If not, I completely understand. Either way, once again, thank you.
Regards,
Bri
Oh, Bri. I think all writer types do this. A lot. Or maybe we’re just two weirdos in this world of sane people, because I did this too. Whenever I got bored at school-or even with my friends sometimes, I would zone into my mind to some crazy plot line that was going on in head at the time. Anyways, this piece (at least to me) resonates with me for this reason. But you know what? I dont think of my fantasy world as an escape, per se. They are more of an energizer for the real world. When I get out of the fantasy, I feel more…prepared I guess, for the real world. It makes me excited to be alive! because, since I am alive, I am ABLE to dream. And that is a gift. Agh, sorry this is so long. But I love you and respect you, baby! ~.<
Haha. Love you too, Chi
I think all middle schoolers are creepy, Bri. Trust me on this one.
Hahaha, i was more of a mean middle schooler. My meds screwed made me not hungry and that made my head hurt which made me just evil. Haha, that’s another story.
Anyway, everyone was a weird little kid and a crazy middle schooler.
I hope he replies, though.
ily<321!!!!