'Speak now অথবা forever hold your peace', the words ব্যক্ত দ্বারা preachers at the end of wedding ceremonies all over the world, right before the vows. It's a last chance for protest, a moment that makes everyone's হৃদয় race, and a moment I've always been strangely fascinated by. So many fantasize about bursting into a church, saying what they'd kept inside for years like in the movies. In real life, it rarely happens.

Real life is a funny thing, আপনি know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial, in fact, that most of us start to hesitate, for fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. But lately what I've began to fear আরো than that is letting the moment pass without saying anything.

I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life, and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say 'I প্রণয় you'. When we should've ব্যক্ত 'I'm sorry'. When we didn't stand up for ourselves অথবা someone who needed help.

These songs are made up of words I didn't say when the moment was right is front of me. These songs are open letters. Each is written with a specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person. To the beautiful boy whose হৃদয় I broke in December. To my first প্রণয় who I never thought would be my first heartbreak. To my band. To a mean man I used to be afraid of. To someone who made my world very dark for a while. To a girl who গাউন something of mine. To someone I forgive for what he ব্যক্ত in front of the whole world.

Words can break someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together. I hope আপনি use yours for good, because the only words you'll regret আরো than the ones left unsaid are the ones আপনি use to intentionally hurt someone.

What আপনি say might be too much for some people. Maybe it will come out all wrong and you'll stutter and you'll walk away embarrased, wincing as আপনি play it all back in your head. But I think the words আপনি stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt আপনি the longest.

So say it to them. অথবা say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it in a letter you'll never send অথবা in a book millions might read someday. I think আপনি deserve to look back on your life without a chorus of resounding voices saying 'I could've, but it's too late now.'

There is a time for silence. There is a time waiting your turn. But if আপনি know how আপনি feel, and আপনি so clearly know what আপনি need to say, you'll know it.

I don't think আপনি should wait. I think আপনি should speak now

Love,
Taylor

PS: To all the boys who inspired this album, আপনি should've known. ;)