Dear Valentine,

First and foremost, thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for what you have taught me in the short months we have been together. Thank you for being understanding and patient. Thank you for capturing my parents and friends. Thank you for being a friend and a shoulder. Thank you for adventures and lazy days spent well. And thank you for the more to come.

As you know, you became a significant part of my life at a terrible time in my life. And you stayed. Instead of running away, you ran head on with me. You have shown me perseverance and patience in stressful situations and I thank you. You gave me strength and reassurance at my worst. You gave me hope and a chance for a new beginning. You were my new beginning. Thank you. You give me support instead of stress. You give me an outlet for emotion and affection. You have given me unforgettable moments and wonderful feelings. You have given me no reason for doubt or worry and only happiness and peace. You have shown me what it means to work for it instead of getting fed up and petty. You have shown me what it feels like to be appreciated. You have shown me what a relationship should be. You have demolished any precedent I had from previous relationships. You have made me feel beautiful when I have ratty hair and wrinkly clothes. You have shown me love is not actually supposed to be hard (imagine that!). You have given me adoration and affection. You have been my fan and my encouragement. You make me not afraid, you have shown me confidence. You have shown me what true and pure comfort is like with someone.

You make things easy. I am me when I am with you. I can be goofy. I can sing/rap with you (a truly rare occurrence). I can wear comfortable clothing instead of always dressing up and you still make me feel beautiful. I can be a total nerd with you and a total idiot. I can stuff my face or order a salad. I can sit in front of the heater while eating ice. I can obnoxiously adore you and you just let me. Without judgement I am me with you.

I never knew what it was like to miss someone after an hour apart. I never knew what it felt like to be appreciated. I never felt adoration nor acceptance. I never got the kind of support you give me. I never knew what patience felt like. I never imagined being considered charming instead of annoying. I never was able to ramble on and be listened to instead of ignored. I have never felt comfortable like I do with you. I never knew what “good” felt like. It was never easy like it is with you.

I want more than anything to make you as happy as you make me. I want to be your support and your shoulder. I want you to know I am your fan and your soldier and I will stand with you. I want you to know I am excited for your future and your plans. I want to be here for the ups and the downs. Through any discouragement I will encourage you. In any doubt I will reassure you. For any stress I want to give you peace. For any struggle I want to help you up. I will hold your hand and run with you. I am here for you just as you are here for me.

I love that we can go on an extravagant adventure or watch movies all day. I love that we share a love for The Office and pickles and spaghetti. I love that we can go to walmart for snacks and make an adventure out of it. I love that we can eat McDonalds one day and cook something up the next. I love that we can play Mario Odyssey for hours. I love that you do not take my rage during Mario Kart seriously. I love that I can tell you anything without judgement and know you will be there. I love that your presence can turn the worst mood around instantly. I love that we can be up until 3 AM one night and passed out at 12:30 the next. I love that there is no fear and no doubt. I love that this is where we are at. I even love that we both have gone through so much hurt and mistreatment, as it only makes our efforts better. I love that we are a team; a perfect team.

I have celebrated many Valentine’s Days but never with someone like you.