April 27th, 2026
Dear Micael,
Thank you for inviting me into your session with Renato. What we shared on that Zoom call was something I didn't expect — a conversation that was honest, emotional, and moving enough to make me cry a little. I can tell he's deeply connected to you, that he sees something of himself in you, and he shared things with me that you simply don't hear in a therapy setting. I've been to more therapists than I can count throughout my life, so I know how rare that is. Hold onto him, and he'll hold onto you.As Harry Baker said, "Of all the words you'll ever hear, remember these: life is too short to eat celery. Life is too long to feed jealousy. And life is likely just the right length to need therapy." I think Renato is your right length.When he gave us our homework at the end of the session — the objects, the gifts — my eyes lit up. You probably saw it happen. Gift-giving is my love language, as you well know, and I am aware that it is not yours. You hate gifts. I know. I don't care. I always get you the best ones.Now, about your gift. I'll be honest with you — there's a chance your first reaction won't be gratitude. You might sigh. You might give me that look. And that's okay, because I know you, and I know this might not be something you would ever pick for yourself. But this gift is supposed to remind you of me — and I need you to hear why before you make up your mind. I also know that I have never once given you something that didn't eventually win you over. So before you react, I need you to read the rest of this letter first. All of it. And then look at it again — because I promise it will look different. And no, it's not a crystal.You can open your gift now.I got you a pill case. Not just any pill case. The infamous Ikigai pill case. And before you say anything, let me tell you what it actually is.It's not about the price. It's about quality, intention, and longevity. I love the sleek design. I love the sound it makes when you open it — that small, satisfying click that most people wouldn't even notice. But I notice it, the same way I notice things about you that hide in plain sight. The same way I noticed your skin, your swallowing, your migraines, your blood pressure — things that were easy to overlook until someone was paying close enough attention.That is who I am. I pay attention.
This pill case represents me because it holds medicine — not metaphorically, but literally. The object I chose to remind you of me is a vessel for the very thing I have dedicated my life to. That is not a coincidence. And like me, it doesn't do things halfway. It is built to last — the only one you'll ever need. I don't believe in replacing something you love with a cheaper version three years later.I know you don't like that they're heavy. I heard you. So I got you the XS — their smallest, lightest version, released just recently. I didn't just pick something I love and hand it over. I found the version that meets you halfway. That's what I do.
I am not a $0.99 pill case, Micael. And neither is what I feel for you.And wow — six years going on seven.
Early on, as I loved you deeper and deeper, I started to feel everything you felt. Your pain became my frustration. Your discomfort became mine. I hated seeing you suffer. I hated the thought of you not being comfortable in your own skin, and I really hated the thought of a world without you in it. I know I went overboard. I know I got obsessive. I know I pulled you away from your work at unreasonable hours to sit in waiting rooms with specialists you didn't know. Thank you for not breaking up with me.The eczema. The eosinophilic esophagitis. The migraines. The blood pressure. And most recently, your depression. One by one, we figured them out together. And I want you to know — every frustrating appointment, every early morning, every moment I dragged you somewhere you didn't want to go — it was worth it. All of it.
I think we're in a good place now. I think you're in a good place now. And I am so ready for you to start truly living in that body of yours, because we fought hard for it.Thank you for letting me in. Thank you for letting me learn. Thank you for letting me play doctor with your health and your life and trusting me enough not to fire me. You have been my favorite patient, my greatest teacher, and my person — all at once.I didn't want to just hand you a pill case. So I made it one of a kind.
On the bottom — because I know you, and I knew you wouldn't want it on the top — I had something engraved. A raccoon and a capybara, your two favorite animals, picking up pills. And a small note that simply says: Gunter loves Micael.
It's silly. It's supposed to be. Because as Renato reminded us, it's important to check in with our younger selves. To be playful. To be silly with each other and to be kind to the little one that lives inside each of us. That small engraving on the bottom of a very serious, very grown-up pill case is exactly that — a little pocket of joy that only you will ever see. A secret between the two of us.
That's us, isn't it? Serious on the outside. Ridiculous with each other when nobody's looking.So here is my promise to you, Micael.
I will always have your back. Your career, your health, your family, whatever you set your mind to — I am there. I will never stop fighting for you, and I will never stop trying. I am always your number one fan, and that will never change.P.S. I also built you a website. I know. I purchased a domain, created a QR code, and figured out the rest. Basically, I am a coder now. Scan the code and you'll find this letter waiting for you at dearmicael.love. The password is notacrystal. I'll update it when I have something to say — I can't promise it will be every day, but I promise it will always be honest. Check in every once in a while. I'll be there.— Love, Gunter