A Letter from the Universe

A Letter from the Universe by Jasmine Dade (@jasmines.writing.corner)

Date: June 25, 2025

From: The Universe

To: Jasmine Dade

Re: An appeal to be hailed as extraordinary

Your appeal has been denied. You are ordinary, and we have the evidence to prove it.

For as long as you’ve existed, people have only ever called you “okay” or “decent”—never anything more, and certainly never extraordinary (Disregard the more intimate moments where a few have sung your praises). No one cares that you’ve struggled with depression or anxiety. Why would it matter that you struggled through tough times and did your best to persevere? Come on. You know what people see when they meet you—a reserved introvert, a less than exceptional student, a painfully sweet soul with a soft spoken voice, a young woman worth eighty-four cents to every man’s dollar, a typical employee with nothing special to offer, an African American reduced to three-fifths of a Caucasian, an aspiring writer whose work barley excites, someone who fills the room but goes unnoticed, and, generally speaking, a rather unremarkable individual. What else could possibly be beneath the surface of someone so generic?

Do you want credit for hiding the pain behind a smile while everything inside you was falling apart? Are you seeking praise for the two poems among thirty that barely missed being terrible? Should I really care that you had excellent grades in college, because, regardless, the fact remains that you were still overlooked for several academic programs in favor of better candidates. Are you angry that we do not take into consideration your advocacy for patients while working as a nurse? Does it bring you agony that being class president means nothing to us? We do not consider fleeting moments of good work (or fantastic work, as some have said) enough to credit you as extraordinary. For example, have you seen your follower count on social media? How about the shameful lack of friends you seem to possess? Or perhaps we should point out the fact that even your own father forgot your birthday. You are insignificant. The history books will not miss your presence. Please remember this: Being extraordinary in the shadows still means you’re only ordinary in the daylight. You are not invisible; you are just easy to overlook. If you require additional proof of your utter mediocracy, then reflect on these moments from your past—

You asked for a raise after a year of dedication and leadership, and received a “We appreciate your hard work, but…”

You confessed intimate feelings to a crush, and his response was “I have feelings for someone else…”

You submitted a poem to a literary magazine and received an email stating, “After careful consideration…”

You tried out for the volleyball team in ninth grade, and the coach said, “You are clearly very athletic, but…”

You made several attempts to fit in with your peers, but every time it ended with, “I almost forgot you were here.”

You applied for a promotion at work, and your boss proceeded to say, “Unfortunately…”

You reached your five-year anniversary with your partner only to be told, “I’m just not ready for marriage…”

You applied for the radiography program, and despite your good grades and test scores, the response to your application was, “We regret to inform you…”

After much reflection, you will once again be pushed into the background, your presence overshadowed by others. I know at first, you refused to let yourself blend into the masses without trying everything you possibly could to be considered extraordinary, but you failed. Please stop trying to appeal this decision. You won’t change our minds. At this time, you have more words than we are willing to listen to. This is your sign to move on. Besides, being ordinary is something you know all too well. Aren't you tired of fighting it?

Signed,

The Universe

Jasmine Dade is an independent author who loves to tell stories that are a bit more interesting than your average Happily Ever After. She was born in Northern Virginia and began writing in middle school. Jasmine dreams of inspiring others so that they may experience the feeling of being in love while not going through the heartbreak of real life. She hopes to continue creating vivid characters and raw, unfiltered emotions so that people can relate to her words.