RE: An Open Letter to One Direction: PLEASE COME BACK

By Mary Gaffney 

Harry, Louis, Niall, Liam, and Zayn,

Hey guys, I really miss ya. Life still hasn’t been the same since the band broke up *insert crying emoji.* In fact, it’s worse. 2020 has really taken a toll on me. There’s only “One Thing” that I want in this world right now: a One Direction reunion. 

On April 13, 2020, ET released an announcement that you guys were planning a reunion for your 10th anniversary in July. I can’t lie; I was in the middle of Zoom class, and I fully screamed. Tears of joy came to my eyes. “What a Feeling” this was, to know that you were all talking again and that this milestone could potentially bring you back together, even if it were virtually. What made the rumors extra promising is that the band’s website was reactivated. At the “End of the Day,” this. Was. Happening. 

The reunion tease was even more exciting, given that we were in quarantine. Everything was so uncertain and, honestly, the future was looking pretty bleak. The potential for your voices to grace my iPhone’s speakers once again was so promising. It really became the only thing I looked forward to (besides, of course, being able to return to everyday life). It’s really the “Little Things.” 

Fast-forward to today: October 27, 2020. No reunion. No more announcements. Not even any unreleased content from the good ole days. Your anniversary came and went, and all we got were some “thank you” tweets and talk about all the “memories.” These were heart-warming for sure, especially Liam, the picture of a text to your father reading, “I’m in a boyband” from 2010. But all that these sincere social media messages did was make me want you back even more. You really led us on, and that’s what hurts the most. I can’t keep making these “Same Mistakes,” thinking that you’re going to get back together. My forehead must have “Tell Me a Lie” written all over it. 

While I am starting to lose hope for a full-fledged reunion, at least I can rely on each of your solo careers to keep me going. Actually, I'm not really sure about the rest of your guys' music taste, but Fine Line is a pure work of art and never gets old. However, "Nobody Compares" to the magic of all five of you together. 

To this day, I love singing your songs at the top of my lungs in whatever mood I happened to be in. In fact, those songs are the perfect content for my apartments' carpool karaoke sessions. P.S. if you haven't sung "No Control" at the top of your lungs while cruising around Ithaca, you're definitely missing out. Luckily, those throwbacks still give me that "Temporary Fix." 

All in all, you missed the arguably perfect opportunity for a reunion this year, which is completely devastating and something I will probably never get over. You didn't even have to see each other! 

I understand that these were all just rumors, but come on, us Directioners have to cling to whatever hope is left. I will try to stay positive "Through the Dark," but "C'mon, C'mon," you guys better make it worth it. You are "Still the One" for me!

With (a little less) love, 

A Forever Directioner