I saw you on the bus with your flowery pants and rad earrings, and the cutest head of curls. You sat in front of me, the girl with the bright blue Cubs jacket, but I was too shy to say hello. You even smiled at me when you got off, but I looked away like a wuss. You looked so cool, and I really want to be your pal. If you see me again (I always wear the same coat) I hope I'll have the guts to say hi! —Friendly Admirer

We had a great Nocturne evening thanks to a sweet, friendly, dark-haired young woman who helped us out with some art. We were in the Terroir Exhibit of AGNS and saw a stunning car hood piece with words written on the back. We asked out loud: were those the words to a song? She overheard us and said yes, and began to beautifully sing a few lines of “Plastic Jesus” for us. That's a good art teacher. —Old Couple out for Nocturne

Thought I was getting to the other side of this heart wreck after some time, distance and meeting new people - and then today, of course, I bump into a stranger who reminds me so much of you I almost wanted to hug them and start crying. What is this encounter supposed to mean? Nothing, by logic, but my foolish heart is countering with nonsense. I miss you so much. I wish I could do or say something to win you over, to show you I could make you happy and support you in whatever you wanted to do, but there is no such story-line. You've found happiness with someone wonderful, and as much as it hurts me to acknowledge it, I know it's best for you. Besides, what fears I would have of letting you down, of knowing for certain I could not bring you happiness. The dark, invisible weight of losing your closeness has been crushing, worse when exposed to the silence of space, but it is nothing compared to the poverty my soul would surely suffer from failing you. That is something I would not want to survive. —An old friend

Still loving you after all these years. —Groupie

There are several countries in this world where apostasy is still punishable by death. Its a touchy subject that people in certain communities don't really talk about openly. I come from one of these countries and a very strict one. I've lost my home and my family since coming out as agnostic. I am nothing more than a traitor in their eyes. But I do not feel like I have lost my life. I pretended long enough to make it here safely and I feel hopeful for my future. I just want to thank this country and the people in it for their love and support. Thank you for letting me have a proper education. The freedom to move around without the permission of my father. For letting me be in a place where I don't have to live with constant anxiety, shame and fear. And eventually the option to choose who I want to love instead of it being chosen for me. I love you Canada. —Ex M

Reaf,

you were here for a conference last month and I agreed to show you around since you were new in town and hey, I'm a local! But I didn't realize how much I liked being around you until you were gone. Now you're back on (geographically and metaphorically) the other side of the world, and I'm thinking "I probably should have kissed you." You reminded me what organic attraction felt like. You're a rock star and a smarty-pants, a creative soul, and someone who let me drag on WAY too long about the stuff I liked. I still prefer you. I just wish you preferred me. And that you weren't a million miles away. So, you'll never read this, but my heart goes out to you for bringing some fun back into a really junky 2016. —Blue Hair and Backgrounds

It's been months now since we separated ways. A part of me will always be waiting for you. You are and will always be the love of my life. —Brooklyn Girl

Working in a food truck has brought my faith in humanity back! Having worked in a big chain retail job for years, where there was no day without a multitude of rude, impatient, verbally abusive customers (which were, more often that not, completely unjustified in their anger), so it's such a refreshing change to work in a job where almost everyone is polite, chatty and grateful. I hope there's more people like these whose sense of manners are as full as our satisfied customers' bellies! —A wonderful 180

Thank you to friendly police officer who rescued me from the Bedford Highway on a misdirected trip home. I'm very grateful for the kindness you showed me, and for helping me out of the pickle I'd gotten myself into. I hope I may find a way to repay the favor, but in the meantime I'll just try to pass on a few such good deeds to others in need. —Wrong turn on Robie

To the purple-haired girl who is always singing while serving people: I'm late for work everyday just so you can cheer me up with your out-of-tune melodies. You serve everyone with a huge smile on your face regardless of how nasty they are. Maybe one day I will get the courage to ask for more than a monster cookie, but until then I will just enjoy your songs. —Someone Who Doesn't Even Like Cookies