The hidden intimacy of writing a letter to someone has been lost as technology has developed over time.

The swirl of someone's handwriting, the hidden meanings hiding behind each dotted "I" and crossed "t".

The care and dedication poured into each word. Perhaps the letter was rewritten many times due to mistakes being made, the writer wanted the letter to be perfect for their intended reader.

They carried the letter to a post office or letterbox, braving the bitter British winds- it's a labor of love.

I know it sounds stupid, but every time I see an envelope sat waiting for me, I get a rush of excitement.

Same with when I get parcels, but that’s another matter. I carefully try and open the envelope without damaging it while failing miserably at doing so.

Usually, the letter is only from the NHS or Specsavers or something else mundane, but when I do get a letter that hasn’t been automatically generated by a computer and sent out annually, I get a rush of happiness.

Someone has taken the time out of their day to sit down and write to me? Wow. It makes me feel valued and special.

I have a pen pal, so every time I get a letter from her, I get to hear about her life all the way in Denmark.

Every time I read her letters I’m transported to a different country as she details her daily life. It’s like a short story.

Her life frozen in a moment of time with words. Not through a Snapchat message, or an Instagram post. Her handwriting encapsulates a moment of her life, a tangible piece of her reality shared with me.

When my great-grandmother passed away, I spent weeks immersed in her diaries, where she meticulously recorded each family member’s birthday, ensuring she would never forget (she was a rather forgetful person).

Her handwriting became a lasting testament to her care and love for us. As I read her swirls of writing, I was reminded of how she always thought of me, documenting every primary school event I was due to take part in, making certain she was there to support me.

Her words and the warmth of her presence lingered on in each birthday card she wrote to me, a permanent reminder of her love for me.

For centuries, letters were the only source of communication between people that lived thousands of miles away from each other.

Letters have played a key role in history for passing valuable information during wars, disguised behind code. Letters were key for keeping in touch with your loved one while they fight for their country.

Yet the art of letter writing has slowly been lost due to the cruel hands of technology, tearing people away from scribbling their deepest desires under the flickering light of a candle and turning them toward sending a single-worded text message to convey their feelings.

Bring back the melancholic poets, who wrote every single thought that crossed their minds on whatever scrap of parchment or paper they could source!

The anticipation of waiting for a letter to arrive can be maddening at times, but in the end it’s worth it. It’s worth it for a part of someone's life wrapped in an envelope, ready for you to read.

I enjoy the process of writing a letter for someone, making sure my handwriting is actually legible, selecting a beautiful stamp. Sending a letter creates a connection via words between you and the recipient, and there’s a hidden vulnerability between reading someone’s handwriting.

You get to see each slanted letter, their thoughts flowing onto the page like a gushing river, unstoppable.

Each letter is a small treasure, a reminder that even in the age of technology, there is still room for a ritual that has been practiced for centuries.

We need to cherish these moments encapsulated with words, allowing our words to bridge the distance between us that text messages cannot. Our words will remain on this earth much longer than we will.

Our lives, loss and love frozen in time; ensnared between the slanted, cursive, rounded, flowery thoughts of your soul.