After many nights of staying up late with tears streaming down my cheeks and waking up to find makeup smudged across my face and pillow, I can finally say that I am over you. I can listen to songs again without having to hold back tears or get upset. I can hear your name (and hers) without a knot forming in my stomach. Most importantly, I can be happy again.

I will never forget our first date or our last. The first day when we held hands and laughed so much it hurt. People probably thought we had been together for months, but really it was our first time hanging out together. We were so comfortable and complimented each other in every way possible. What we had seemed perfect and strong. Months went by with me still thinking about how hooked I was and with every passing day I fell for you even more.

Then it happened: the word “read” under my texts with no reply, the sound of your phone ringing six times then going to voicemail, and snapchats left with open arrows. What had happened? What had changed? What had I done wrong?

For the longest time I was stuck under the impression that you were the end-all-be-all, the greatest guy to walk this Earth. It turns out that you were really just another person passing through in my life. It has taken me a long time to say this, definitely longer than I thought it would have taken me, but thank you for ending it with me. You’ve given me a chance to rebuild and find myself and for that, I’m very grateful.

You’re still the first person I want to tell when anything good happens to me. Your phone number is engraved in my mind along with every memory we share. Everything that I see reminds me of you whether it be one of our favorite places to disappear to or a store we used to shop in together. You’re the one I want to tell when I do something good because I know that at one point it would have made you proud. You’re the one I want to comfort me when I’m tossing and turning at night, but unfortunately, you’re the one causing it.

Although it has been difficult, I’ve come to realize that everything gets better with time. The sun still rises every morning and the days bring much less agony than before. No more tears fall across my cheeks late at night and I no longer wake up with pounding headaches. You treated me wonderfully while I was yours and I don’t regret a single thing. I am a better person because of you so thank you.