A year ago, you had no clue who he was. If you ever saw him, you probably walked right past him like it was nothing. If people brought him up, you probably pulled out your phone and went on either Instagram, Snap Chat, or Twitter since you couldn’t partake in a conversation about someone you knew nothing about. A year ago, you two were complete strangers, but within that year, a lot more than you could have imagined changed…

It’s cliché to say how crazy things change in one year, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. In one year you can experience the blossoming of a friendship of two complete strangers in to best friends. You can experience what it feels like to fall in love. And you can experience the aching pain of your first real heartbreak.

You first met him and you knew right away that there was just something about him, but you couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly it was. Was it the spark in his eyes or the way that whenever he glanced over at you, that smile beamed across his face? Was it the way he would come over to try and talk to you? Try and start an actual conversation – not just one so you could be the girl he would hook up with by the end of the night? Or was it essentially a warning that this stranger right in front of your eyes would be someone you would fall in love with and later leave you crying in your bed – lost, numb, and alone.

Whatever the reason – don’t regret not overthinking it back then. Don’t be the one saying, “If only I was more careful with my feelings and my heart.” Don’t wish you never met him. Don’t wish you never became best friends. Don’t wish you never fell in love with him. And don’t you dare wish you guys had just always stayed strangers.

From then until now, you got to experience something that you’ll never forget. You got to experience those butterflies every time his name popped up on your screen. You got to experience overanalyzing every text you sent him. Smiley face or kissy face? Is he going to think a winky face is too weird? How long should I wait to answer?

You got to experience the stupid beginning stage of texting. Asking so many random questions to keep the conversations going and discover any common interests. What’s up? What’s your major? What’s your favorite candy?

You got to experience the FaceTime calls. Do I look cute? Is my voice annoying? Is this lighting good?

You got to experience the wondering of what you guys are. Are we talking? Do I ask? How? Is that weird?

You got to experience the nerves of meeting his family for the first time. Do I look okay? Are his parents going to like me? Please just once don’t do or say anything stupid!

You got to experience the pressures of meeting his friend’s expectations. Do they think I’m hot? Do they think I’m weird?

You got to experience going on real dates - not just your typical “Netflix and Chill.” You went to the movies together. You went on lunch and dinner dates.

You got to experience the feeling of staring in his eyes, waiting for him to lean in and kiss you for the very first time. And feeling breathless after his lips pressed gently against yours. Not being able to stop smiling as your lying in your bed that night, replaying it in your head over and over again.

You got to experience talking to someone day in and day out – the on-going conversations throughout the day where you never ran out of anything to say and everything just flowed so naturally.

You got to experience the late night talks, forcing your eyelids to stay open just a few minutes longer and then not regretting a single second of it after hearing your early morning alarm go off.

You got to experience opening up to him. Telling him your dreams and aspirations. Confessing your mistakes and your fears. Trusting him with anything and everything about you.

You got to experience becoming a part of his family. Talking to his mom like one of your best friends. Messing with his dad like little kids.

You got to experience what it felt like to be called beautiful. And believed it too.

You got to experience what it felt like to hear him say those three words you were scared of saying, mesmerized at how easily they flowed right back from your lips too.

And you got to experience what it felt like to fall in love with your best friend more and more every day.

And then you had to experience the heartbreak. The feeling of hearing words you wished were some kind of sick joke.

You had to experience what it felt like to not be able to fall asleep at night. What it felt like to cry in front of all of your closet friends and family.

You had to experience the feeling of being a burden to everyone around you. Feeling hopeless and pathetic.

You had to experience not wanting to do anything. Not want to go to class. Open your books. Do your homework. Study. Eat. Sleep. Shower.

You had to experience being alone. Lost in your thoughts. Does he miss me? Is he going to talk to me again? Is he going to speak to me ever again? Will we get back together?

Right now things might be different. You might be on a break or fully broken up. You might just be friends with him or not even speak. Whatever the case, don’t be sulking in regret. Regretting it can’t take it back and in retrospect, would you want to experience all of that with anyone other than him?

A year ago, you had no clue who he was. Now you might see him and want to run up to him and jump in his arms just to feel whole again. But you’ll probably have to ignore him and walk right by just like you did when he was a stranger. If people bring him up, you probably will pull out your phone – not because you have nothing to say, but so you can hide your face and let no one see the tears streaming down your cheeks. A year ago, you two were complete strangers and now you’re starting to act like complete strangers all over again. The only difference between then and now, though, is all the experiences that you will someday look back on with a little pain in your heart and a big smile on your face.