I could not begin to thank you enough. You are the reason I believe in love again. You make me believe there’s an exception-- that not all guys are the same. Most importantly, you make me believe not every guy is going to break my heart. After 4 years, you came into my life unexpectedly and changed everything. You have mended what was broken and I was beginning to think that was impossible. I know at first I refused to let you in. I refused to open my heart to someone I barely knew. I am grateful I changed my mind. I am grateful I let my guard down. And I am grateful you never gave up on me. I don’t know what made you stay or what you may have seen in me, but I am so happy you saw something in me when I didn’t. I am sorry I wasn’t optimistic about love. I would have regretted not giving you the chance to portray the potential we had. I know your first love is someone you will never forget. The first time you fall in love the feeling never goes away and you cannot simply change that. That first love always awakens your soul and shows you what love has to offer. Often if we’re lucky our first love is where the story ends. But not all of us are not that lucky. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, and maybe years to discover love again. If I had anything to say about my first love it would be that it was a lesson learned. It taught me promises are broken and sometimes words aren’t truly meant. It taught me to keep my guard up until you can trust again. It taught me to ultimately love myself again. I can honestly say thank you to the guy who helped me find myself again, helped me become strong, helped me to discover what I truly deserve from a man. But ultimately, as I thought I would never say this, but thank you for crushing my heart. If you would have never done that damage, it would have never led me to the person I am today but also would have never gave me the unexpected second chance for someone wonderful to walk into my life. You can re-write the future and not punish another guy for the mistake they made. My mother always told me that and I’m thankful I listened. That wise advice gave me you. It gives me the continuous smiles on my face. It gives me the kind of laughter that you can’t breathe. It gives me the teenage butterflies in my stomach. It gives me the warmth feeling in my heart that I am right where I belong. It gives the one person whom I simply can’t live without. Seconds chances are hard to give but they can be worth it. I know mine was. Don’t ever hold yourself back from what you know deserve. Don’t be afraid to not trust that person with the most delicate part of you. It could be everything you’ve been searching for. I luckily found it when I wasn’t searching. It was the best unexpected surprise I have ever received.