Dear anonymous submitter,

Welcome to the first public installment (and second installment ever) of Almost Love! Thank you so much for wanting to take part in this project and for sharing your story or experience, whether it be a positive one or negative one.

This is meant to be a safe space to say whatever you need to say. Maybe it’s the words you didn’t get to say before you were dumped or ghosted. Or it’s the text message you’ve repeatedly typed out intending to send it, but you backspace and lock your phone each time. Maybe you’re in love and want to give the singles something to root or hope for based on your own experience of finding it. Maybe you want to send your lover a special note just because. Maybe you just got out of a long-term relationship with someone who wasted your time. Maybe you’re the one who ghosted, feels guilty, and has an apology on your mind that’s a little too late to say. Or maybe you’re simply looking to finally talk your shit to the person that burned you, which cements themselves into the burn book.

Regardless of whatever brought you here, thank you. And I truly hope this gives you solace and comfort if you’re looking for it.

*Submission field below the FAQ

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Almost Love: The Stories We Kept & The Stories We Shared FAQ

What is Almost Love?

almost love
[awl-mohst luhv] noun.

Almost Love launched in February 2022, originally as a poetry retrospective featuring previously written, published, and recently curated bodies of work that detail the many emotions I’ve felt while dating as Generation Z. From the weird situationships, to toxic entanglements, to extremely long talking stages, and eternally staying in the “pre-cuff” phase, this carefully curated collection of work dives deep into the connection established and other experiences shared with another individual that had the potential to become love but would be later deemed as Almost Love.

In the upcoming installment Almost Love II, which will launch in 2025, I’m shifting the format away from poetry and getting brutally honest with the realities of dating, not just as Generation Z, but in this society. This stemmed from the idea of wanting to create a digital, yet private burn book, filled with letters addressed to my almost loves — people I’ve been in talking stages with, have gone out on dates with, etc. — saying whatever shit I needed to get off my chest in the aftermath of them ghosting or hurting me.

But this second installment won’t just be my burn book filled with letters or posts of my experiences/stories. I’m opening it up to anyone with similar dating experiences that they’d like to share, words they’re never gonna say, texts they’re never gonna send, apologies they’d like to make but can’t — whatever the case may be. But on that note, it will not just be a digital burn book for the ones who’ve had their hearts broken or played with either. This is also going to be one of love notes with the positive experiences of dating in this society and finding love — the success stories if you will.

It’s tough out here, but I felt it was important to open this up to submissions beyond me because though every journey is different, some experiences can be eerily the same. And people take comfort in knowing they’re not alone in the feelings they harbour that were either invalidated or validated by someone else.

When will you be posting the new installment?

Coming to Unfiltered in February 2025.

When do submissions close?

January 12, 2025

What can I submit?

Anything you’re comfortable with disclosing or sharing! Like I mentioned in the brief for this project, it can be:

• that text to the person you’re thinking of that you’re never gonna send
• an apology to the person you’ve hurt but it’s too late to tell them
• a note to your current lover
• final words to the person who did you dirty and hurt you/ghosted you without reason
• your own lived experience about how shitty or not shitty dating in this society is

Whatever thoughts or feelings are weighing heavy on your heart or mind, just let it out. You don’t have to name-drop anybody or connect the person you’re thinking of to the words you’ve written (it can simply be in the format of “Dear ***“). This is simply a safe space for you to use it how you’d like.

Will my identity be revealed at all?

Not if you don’t want it to be. If you’ve opted to submit anonymously, your identity will remain just that: anonymous. If you’ve submitted to me on other channels via Instagram, TikTok, or email, and later wish to have your submission be anonymous, I will honour that and ensure there’s no trace of your name tied to what you’ve submitted.

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