Yeah, I know; you’re probably saying to yourself right now that being someone’s “second true love” sounds like an incredibly suck-tacular title, and you’re right, it could be. You might also be thinking why would you want to be someone’s “second true love”? All of the fairytales talk about the princess’s first true love, but in our case, you have made this experience a fairytale all in it’s own.
Think about it, you wanted me at a time where I was at my worst: I was getting over a rough break up with a boy who I had been with for on and off four years. Most of my teen life was spent with this boy and a few of my milestones were when I was dating him. I was a mess and I felt empty, but you still saw something in me that you wanted, and you strived.
I had so much emotional baggage when you fell for me. I was hurting and had so many trust issues that I felt I couldn’t let anyone in. If you could take my messy bedroom and make it an emotion, that’s what I was feeling. For every inch of wall I put up, you put in effort to tear it down. I was damaged merchandise, but still you thought I was good enough.
Being in that past relationship changed me and formed me into someone I wish I wasn’t. I’m sometimes bitter and sarcastic. I was forced to learn to stick up for myself, so much so to the point where I was being mean right back. Sometimes I would lash out at you, curse you out until I was blue in the face and mistreat you. Sometimes that still happens, even though we’re dating now and it kills me that it does. Still, you see something in me that you want, so you put up with me.
You have to live with and accept the fact that I’m tainted. You’re not going to be my first kiss, my first dance, or my first boyfriend. You know very well that there’s a chance that you won’t be my first anything, but still you see something special about me and treat me like something you’ve never seen before.
Most importantly, you taught me that even after being torn apart and broken, there is still a chance for someone to come in and show you that love is still a very real possibility. You make me laugh harder than I have been able to in a long time, you treat me like royalty even when I don’t deserve it (and believe me that’s a lot). You showed me the truest and deepest love I have ever known, even after having my heart shattered to pieces by boys before you. Me being in college and being two hours away from you and your job isn’t easy in the slightest. We run on totally different schedules, and sometimes we don’t get to talk all day, but you put in the effort to make sure we fall asleep on the phone together every night. Between supporting me in all my endeavors and giving me a reality check here and there, you love me for everything that I am and everything that I will never be. So here’s to you, my second true love: thank you. I love you.
