Dear my goofy, cute, patient, and perfect boyfriend,

I was never the person to think of a fairytale relationship. I never wanted to be treated like a princess; I never wanted to be spoiled and smothered. At the beginning of senior year, I told myself I wasn't going to date. I was going to wait until college because I thought my high school was pure bad luck for my love life.

But then you came along. Caring, concerned, and listening — you were the friend I needed and just what I hoped for. You came to me — a shy, quiet girl — with your arms opened, smiling all the while. When it blossomed from friendship to relationship, I felt as if I had moved up to live on cloud nine.

You stuck with me. You bared through my mood swings and my upsets and cherished my good moods. When huge, hulking obstacles came through early on, you stood at my side and took them on with me. You didn't leave, you didn't get scared.

You support me with the strongest beams; you're my rock and I don't know where I would be if you were not a part of my life.

Thank you.

Thank you for putting up with my tantrums and anxiety. I know I have times where I cry over little things, like the tear in a stuffed animal's seam or over absolutely nothing. I know my anxiety is a mystery to you and it is hard to completely understand, but you try so hard to calm me down and cheer me up again. You remedy my anxiety with cute pictures of puppies and I'm sure that I've left at least one or two mascara-decorated tear stains on all of your shirts.

Thank you for keeping me sane. You are my sanctuary — you're my stress relief and my foundation. You are the blessing I've always needed in my life. You keep my feet on the ground even when stress, family, and school threaten to tear me apart.

Thank you for loving me. I used to think no one ever would, and then you came along and changed my philosophy on love and relationships. You've opened me up to so many new perspectives that I never thought imaginable.

Thank you for making me happy. My mind is still stuck as a 5-year-old, but you tolerate my love of puppies, stuffed animals, and cutesy video games. You complement me in every way.

Thank you for always making me laugh. My days would be so dark and bleak without the sight of your goofy smile or your melodic laughter. All the times that you've done a silly dance, serenaded me on car rides, fought me in a tickle war, or made fun of the way I talk — it's all the little things you do that make me appreciate you so much, and all of them brighten my day.

Thank you for being mine. You've bettered my life in so many ways and you've made me feel something that I never thought I would: love. You are my best friend and my partner in crime, as well as the person I can depend on when the going gets tough. I cherish everything you do and I can't imagine how I'd be today without all of your support and rationality. I am so glad you are in my life; there is no one better for me.

I love you.

Always,
Your incredibly happy and eternally grateful girlfriend.