I Swear You Will Be Fine

Dear Josh,

As your mum wrote, I’ll be coming to London for your sister’s graduation. It’s a bittersweet feeling because I’m going as both a supporter of your sister and as your girlfriend. But your mum is right, I now feel more like your sister’s virtual sister than your girlfriend around the family – which is a good thing. I am content.

Over Mahjong, which your mum and grandma have gotten so good at, we were talking about what would have likely transpired if you were here. There were three likely scenarios. I was pretty certain that if you were here I wouldn’t be going to London. We would have been dating for slightly over two years, but it still would have been a big thing for me to come along on a family trip. And anyway, I wouldn’t have asked to tag along. Your mum slightly disagrees. Here’s what we thought.

1. I think I would have insisted you go no matter what. It’s your sister’s graduation from med school – a ginormous achievement and life-changing milestone. I would have forced you on the plane if I had to. You would have gone with your family without me.
2. Your mum says that you would have asked for me to come along. I’m not sure how the discussion between you and your mum would have gone down, but you would have told me, “Yeah, my mum says you can come. She’s super chill, don’t worry.” As I have learnt after having long conversations with your mum since 2025, there were several – or rather, many – things she had to compromise on for you. These were things that you’d tell me “she’s super chill” about. Whilst she is indeed a cool mum, I have learnt that there were some things you might have “forced” her to be cool about. So, I would have gone with you and not knew about the “behind the scenes”.
3. The third scenario is one your mum thinks could have happened after the second one. She says you might have even asked to go for dinner with me, alone, and skip graduation dinner. Now, if I had known that we’d be skipping graduation dinner, I’d have physically dragged you to dinner if that was required. But I think, based on past experiences, you’d have asked your mum if we could skip, “forced” her to be cool with it, then tell me that your mum suggested we go for dinner on our own. I’d have said, “Are you sure we shouldn’t go for grad dinner?” And you would have said, “Yeah, my mum’s super chill, don’t worry.”

How do I know what you’d have said? Because similar situations have happened before and I only found out after 2024. It’s funny though, brought us many laughs. And I do appreciate the effort you put in for the things we got to do. And of course, I appreciate your mum being super chill too.

Can’t wait to see you again. I hope you’ll be with us in London. I love you more, always, and forever.

Love always,

Sha