Well, hello there! I bet you’re wondering what I’m going to write about in this open-letter, but rest-assured that these are all good things. Do you remember when we met? Our friends were playing match-maker and kept trying to get us close to each other. Not long after an exchange of phone numbers, we started talking every day. It was always the highlight of my day just talking to you about school, common interest or maybe just nothing at all. I knew you had a crush on me, and soon I was crushing back. I knew I started liking you when I started telling you about one of my favorite book series, and I suggested for you to read the first book. You never really liked reading, and you read the entire first book just for me. I was so touched that it was then that I realized that I really liked you. Everyone knew we liked each other, even some of our teachers.

When you asked me out, I was so nervous and excited that I almost threw up; it turns out that I had a virus and that was just nausea, but we’ll say it was butterflies, too. We have grown and journeyed together in our relationship, and it has been an amazing experience and one that I know can only get better from here.

During our relationship, you have become more than my boyfriend, you have become my best friend. You have become the person I trust with everything. I have told you every secret, shown you every scar and bared my heart to you. I know what you’re thinking, stop being so sappy –– but I mean every word. I trust you, and I value the relationship we have worked so hard building. Our relationship has not been the easiest by any means. We have had people try to break us a part, our trust in each other has been tested, fights that led in tears and phone calls that lasted until 1 a.m. The two of us have had to overcome obstacles and have fought so hard to keep each other. Some may call us crazy, some people may say that we’re “whipped,” and some may say that we’ll never last. Well, I know that they are all wrong.

You and I love each other and have had our fair share of struggles, but we are both too stubborn to ever let those things that people say ever be right. Yes, we fight. We fight about spilled milk and mountains that we cannot move, but everyone fights and I would never want anyone to agree with me all the time, even I don’t agree with myself all the time. You bring me back to earth and back into reality when I am in way over my head and I remind you that sometimes we both just need to agree to disagree. We balance each other out, we care about each other, and we love each other.

There are a million little ways that we say ‘I love you’ each and every day.

“How was your day?”

“Text me when you get home safely”

“I’ll get you another slice of pizza”

“I miss you”

“Do you want me to make you a cup of tea?”

“I love you”

Those are only a few ways we say those three little words that hold so much meaning. Sometimes it’s you holding the door opened for me, watching The Princess Bride with me for the 28^th time, or listening to me ramble on about a new book I finished and sometimes it’s me listening to your music when we are in the car, calling you at 11 PM after rehearsal just to talk for a half hour, or attempting to understand your interests.

My dear, you mean everything to me. You are always supporting me and listening to me in times of tension or trouble. Here is what I want you to know: I love you and I love all that you have done for me. You have helped me grow in ways that I never thought I could. You have helped me face some of my worst fears and make some of my dreams come true. I do not know where I would be without you and nor do I want to know; I just want to be with you.

I love you.