Feb. 2

Dear Journal,

I apologize. I realized I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Adrian, as you already know. I have black hair and very brown eyes, even though my ID says black. I don’t really spend a lot of time outdoors, so I’m pale. What else…I’m the first son of my family. 

I have an older sister, she’s to be married soon. The two of them have been sweethearts for a long time. I’m just hoping that I’ll be able to get leave in order to make the wedding. I rather like the guy; he’s handsome and treats her well enough. What more could a brother ask for? I also have two younger brothers, attached at the hip and practically twins.

My mother often jokes that they should’ve been born together. We can barely tell them apart at this point. They’ve got the same haircut, black hair hanging down in their faces. I can’t say I approve of it. I’m much more clean cut—Even when I did keep my hair longer, I slicked it back.

It’s funny. Now I can’t help but touch my hair expecting it to be much longer. It sort of flops all around whilst sticking straight up in weird places, and it’s difficult to style after I sleep. It’s not like I have much of a choice in styles. Looking around, we all have the same haircut. I think we’re all meant to be the same or something along those lines.

It doesn’t work. Bryce’s different. This is…weird, but I think it might be his smile. It’s surprisingly radiant—no, Bryce himself is radiant in his entirety. His smile is just part of that. It’s very white and surprisingly pristine for a young man like him. I’m not sure I’ve ever met another young man like him.

-Adrian