LET'S TALK ABOUT: PARALLEL UNIVERSES

Do you ever wonder what the you in each parallel universe is doing and if they're happy? Or is that just me? Regardless of who/if anyone can relate, I'm gonna waffle on for the next 2/3 minutes about 'what ifs' and 'if onlys'. (You've been warned).

Firstly, there's the me that actually applied to the University of Bristol – and went. My Dad and I went to visit Bristol in 2012 when I was short-listing which universities I wanted to apply to. It's safe to say that I fell head over heels with the city – and the university – but I didn't have enough confidence in myself to achieve the necessary grades. In honesty, it felt like a wasted application. One year later, little did I know that I would finish my A Levels with the exact grades needed to guarantee a place. Bollocks. Although I did consider going through clearing to nab a space, I had my heart set on Manchester by that point. 
→ To that me: I hope that Bristol fulfilled all of your hopes and dreams, and that you felt just as at home there as this me did up north. I hope that you stayed just as besotted with Philosophy – even if some of the lecturers intimidated you a hecka lot. I hope you're happy, gal.

Next up, there's the me that dropped out of university in her first year and moved back to Nottingham. This was a genuine consideration that almost turned into a reality back in the Christmas of 2013, but thanks to some ~strong~ persuasion (cheers Dad) I remained at UoM studying the same course. I do sometimes wonder what what have happened had I come back to Nottingham. My plan at the time was to apply for a creative writing course at UoN and – in honesty – I think that would have made me really happy. I've somehow ended up in that field anyway, minus the specialist degree, but it's interesting to think how much more I would know about the world of language had I made that leap. 
→ To that me: I hope you didn't regret leaving a city that turned out to be your heart and soul. I hope you entered short story competitions, got involved in poetry slams (do they exist in the UK? I watch too much American TV), and are on your way to writing your very first novel. But of course – I hope you're happy, gal.

Lastly, there's the me that never left Manchester back in 2017 – the me that still lives in her favourite place on the surface of this planet. Whether she stayed living in Salford Quays, moved into the city of Manchester itself, or relocated further afield (I'm thinking Sale, Stockport, or Macclesfield), there's a large part of this me that wishes I was still that me. And I am, in some ways. I am in a parallel universe, at least. I would have found a job that I loved the pants off; ticked off every restaurant on my foodie bucket list; visited every National Park within driving distance (twice); spent lazy Sundays wandering around Altrincham Market; driven across to Liverpool a few more times; continuously got lost in the maze that is the Trafford Centre's car park... yeah, I would have been happy. 
→ To that me: I really do hope that you are as happy as your little heart can be. I wholeheartedly believe that everything happens for a reason, so there was a definite need for me to pull away. But things change. People change. Places change. And I'll come back to you, I promise.