Dear 2020,

It brings me absolutely every pleasure to say—it’s over. We’re done. I can’t do this anymore. Most importantly: It’s you, not me.

Throughout the course of our relationship, you’ve brought so much pain, anxiety, and fear upon me. Since January, everything you did filled me with dread.

Did you really have to take Kobe Bryant from us? Alex Trebek? Chadwick Boseman?

Your cruelty knows no bounds. 

And the virus? How could you? The year before, while you were eagerly waiting for your time to shine, you saw us fighting over Popeyes’ chicken sandwiches for upwards of a month—did you think we could handle a full-fledged pandemic?

It’s so obvious you were insensitive to my needs, and no relationship can be worth it without that basic pillar of respect. Not to mention, you couldn’t even give the people of this nation any sort of stability.

You kept us in the USA on the edges of our seats for weeks with the 2020 election, and you couldn’t even finish the job!

Why’d you have to pawn off the Georgia Senate runoffs onto 2021? That year does not need your baggage.

Yet, it’s not just the large problems of our society that plagued the time we spent together. Your small offenses made me feel unheard and upset, from January to December.

You took the Olympics away from me—a most grievous sin when considering that Simone Biles is seen as a greater symbol of national pride than that guy who led the executive branch all year.

You’ve locked me into my homes since March—you are the reason I now consider my bedroom a prison cell.

You took PV students out of school and away from much needed human interaction—I never thought a year could make me yearn so dearly for the 40-degree cold and early morning zero periods that the teacher never shut the door for.

However, I have to admit that our relationship taught me many things.

It taught me how long is appropriate to wear the same pair of sweats before they completely reek of B.O. It taught me that online shopping isn’t a great coping mechanism, even if that 40-pack of candles seems so essential.

But above all, it taught me that we’re all in the same boat—the boat of being completely mesmerized by Tiger King and The Queen’s Gambit.

While this is all water under the bridge now that I’m in a healthier relationship with 2021, I’m more than happy to leave you 2020, my toxic ex, far behind.

Sincerely,

Humanity