In the last decade, I've developed a lot of compassion for younger Ruth. I have a lot of growing I still need her to do, but I am also more compassionate toward my fuckups, my anxieties, my adorations, my obsessions, my hopeless crushes, my misconceptions, my flaws...

And even if, say, I were to become a person in 20 years who really isn't into the idea of having a bat tattooed between her breasts (JUST BRAINSTORMING THAT, NOT MY FIRST GO-TO), I hope she'll have love, compassion, and fond memories of the much younger woman who DID. I hope me then will love me now, because me now needs her love. Fin.