X: From 2023 to 2024 (A Year-End Post) I

At exactly 12am on December 2023, I started writing my year-end post while finishing my 2nd Jack and Coke. I made an outline of all the good and bad things that happened in my year 2023, and then I started fleshing out what I outlined.

While I was writing the almost middle of the post, I yawned. I said to myself, “Crap. I feel tired. I’m supposed to finish this post.” But then I decided not to fight the sleepiness, so I hopped on the couch and napped.

5 minutes later, I woke up, and my laptop was off. I didn’t turn off my laptop.

And then I heard a voice. “Hi, Dewey.”

I looked up and I saw myself – a version of myself, that is. He is The Deranged Writer of 2008.

DW (2008): “Hi, Dewey.”

Current DW: “Uh, hi. What are you doing here?”

I looked at DW of 2008 – more notably, his long hair. It has not reached shoulder length until 2009, so I know he’s from 2008. That and the black buttoned shirt that he’s wearing.

Current DW: “Somehow I missed my long hair. But maintaining it has been a bitch.”

DW (2008): “I was about to ask you what happened to your hair. Anyway…”

Current DW: “Hey, hey. Let me ask again: what are you doing here?”

DW (2008): “I just want to ask this: 2008 has been a shit year. Why should I hold on until at least 2023?”

There was silence, and my jaw dropped a bit. I did not know what to answer at first. Then…

Current DW: “Well, things will get better…”

DW (2008): “I heard that before. So don’t bullsh…”

Then I screamed, “Shut the fuck up! I’m not yet finished!”

DW (2008) went silent, with a frown on his face.

Current DW: “Sorry for shouting at you. I know you don’t like that.”

DW (2008): “It’s all right. Apology accepted. Please continue.”

Current DW: “OK. As I was saying, things will get better. You may be having a shitty 2008, but in the years to come, it will get better.”

DW (2008): But… how? My heart was broken, I don’t know what to do with my life, I feel so shitty…”

Current DW: “I know how you feel. I’m you, after all. But it will get better. Trust me.”

There was silence again, and then an idea came to mind.

Current DW: “All right. Since you are talking to 2023 me, I will tell you what happened this year, and then I will tell you why it will get better.”

“First, the bad things…”

DW (2008): “Crap. I don’t need to hear that…”

Current DW: “No, no, no. You need to hear this because… I quote from a TV show, “Life is a pile of good things and bad things.”

“In 2023, your heart is still not over with the pain of losing loved ones. Looking for your dream job is hard. Earning money has been difficult as well. And your mental health is not fine all the time.”

DW (2008): “Are you kidding? My mental health has not been fine since God knows when. And speaking of losing loved ones, are we talking about…”

Current DW: “No. Whoever you are about to mention, you will get over her 5 years after 2008.”

DW (2008): “Oh…”

Current DW: “I’m talking about someone else – someone you will meet in 2014. But that’s another story.”

“Anyway, in 2023, you still have not moved on, you don’t have the job that you want, you are half-broke, and you are mentally unwell. But…

DW (2008): “But…”

Current DW: “In 2023, there are more good things to remember. Firstly, you will enter the family business.”

DW (2008): “Wait. Our family business?”

Current DW: “Yep. Our family’s. Admin assistant. You will become an admin assistant.”

DW (2008): “Oh. OK. I never expected that. Will I last long?”

Current DW: “Surprisingly you will last beyond 6 months. In fact, you lasted a year.”

DW (2008): “Damn. Looking for my dream job must have been THAT hard.”

Current DW: “Yep. It was hard. And in 2023, you will start earning money again. As I said, earning money has been tough in 2023, but at least you started earning again.”

DW (2008): “Earning again?”

Current DW: “Yes. Your dream job hunting has been hard since 2020. But that’s another story.”

DW (2008): “Why? What happened?”

Current DW: “Uh… a pandemic happened…”

DW (2008): “What? What pandemic?”

Current DW: “…”

DW (2008): “What pandemic?!”

And then I woke up. Damn. The shouting of DW (2008) shook me. No wonder he went silent and frowned when I screamed at him.

(To be continued…)