Sol·ace (noun) comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness. I have always taken pride that my name is in the dictionary. Other kids would marvel as I showed off my name right there, a word plain simple and yet so complicated. People always wonder why I was named Solace. Were my parents going through hardships? Was I their solace? No. I was named after an album full of songs I have never listened to and by an artist I never knew.
My name’s origin is quite fitting. Solace. It sounds like the deep silvery words of a sad song playing on a rainy day. It is the blue and gray clouds that show the sun is coming but not here yet. For now we will be in a state of calm after the storm, before the blinding sun hits. It tastes mellow. Not spicy or sweet or even sad or happy. Mellow. The comfort food you need when you get a bad grade or embarrass yourself in front of your friends. Comfort. My name is smooth and flawless except when it’s not. Like running your hand against the glossy pieces of a solved puzzle but when its taken apart, and yes it will be taken apart it is rough to the hand jagged and rough.
My name is a circle simple yet complicated with no edges but how do you find the area of a circle? See it’s not as straightforward as finding the area of a square. My name should be easy, Solace like the word. It’s not easy though. I have heard it all, Soh lace, Soh lice, Sol lace, even Solstice. Perfect for me. My name is the winter solstice. Marking the days to be short and sweet. Just like me. Like winter sunrises that you only see if you are up early enough to be going to school on the bus. I am fiery but Solace is calm like morning snow on a winter day. A perfect mix. My name complements me well. I am calm I am firey I am all of the above.
My mom always offered for me to go by my middle name. Jilian with one “L” not two. Lowkey but still special. I am not lowkey. Jilian is plain Jane, too normal. I am Solace my name is so rare it does not get stereotyped. It gives me plenty of room to be whoever I want. Unique, soft, ambitious. This is how I have branded “Solace”. I would not like to be renamed. I have pondered a simple name like Sarah still with a soft “S”. No. Sarah is simple. Solace is super Solace is serenity yet Solace is sparkle. I am Solace.
-Solace Yee, 14 y/o
Massachusetts
All Love Letters’ are pristine, posted as they were received. Please forgive any spelling and grammar issues, since the writing was done in the throes of love, and sometimes love doesn’t care about commas or misplaced letters.
