Hey you,

It's been a while since we have talked in reality, but we talk all the time in my head. The sound of your voice has become faint to me, but it's still there. I create scenarios where we meet again and I say everything that has been on my mind since you left me two years ago. Or, everything that I came up with when you tried coming back saying you had a change of heart, but ditched me two days later. I know these scenarios don't pop up in your head; I doubt you even think of me. Everyone was right, though. It has become easier living without you. However, while they are right that I am better off without you, I learned that I was right when I used to tell you that I loved you more than you could ever love me.

We both met when we were young and we fell for each other fast. It was your typical young love story that everyone dreams of, except ours was only better. The way we looked in each other's eyes let everyone around us know that we were truly in love. I remember we went out for an anniversary dinner. I was standing in front of the entrance as I watched you get out of your car. I wore a sundress that day which we knew was rare for me because I never dressed up. You walked right up to me, wrapped me in your arms, kissed me and told me I looked beautiful. I remember overhearing two ladies waiting outside of the restaurant on a bench whisper to each other, "Now that's young love." They were right. We were the relationship that everyone wished they could experience.

We used to spend late nights talking about all the dreams we had for us when we got older. How I would finish college, we would move to where a job was available, what our wedding colors would be, everything. Our future was ambiguous and we ignored that we were just teenagers trying to reach it. Love made us feel invincible and nobody was going to tell us that we couldn't do it. I remember you looking me in the eyes one night with tears welling up in yours as you promised me you would love me forever. I was the only one and like we always said it was to infinity and beyond. Most of these late night talks usually ended with the I love you, I love you more, I love you most... argument. We would always create words to try and one up each other. Turns out, I won in the end as I am still here loving you.

When you left, my heart shattered and I didn't know how I was supposed to live life without you by my side. I couldn't understand how someone who promised forever could look me in the eyes and tell me it was ending. I felt like a failure because all I wanted to do was give you happiness and the most love you could ever receive. As we were breaking up, you still muttered how you loved me which made everything worse because you were still leaving. You told me you loved me still, but I knew at that moment I loved you more because I could never leave; I didn't want to leave.

If this open letter ever reaches you, I want you to know a few last things. First off, I don't hate you. You did break my heart, but I could never hate a man that I was once in love with. Before I met you, I didn't know what it was like to truly be in love with someone. I thought all the silly relationships in junior high or high school were the real deal, but the real deal is what I experienced with you. I am so grateful that you gave me what I thought only existed in fairy tales. It is something I will remember for the rest of my life and something I truly hope everyone gets to experience in their own way because of how magical it was.

I will always admit that I do still love you and I do miss you. With that said, I've learned that I am no longer in love with you, but I will always love you. I catch myself thinking of you, but mainly us. It's not all tears anymore, but rather smiles because the memories we created were incredible. They truly outweigh the ending. I tell our story still and when I do, I cannot stop smiling. I do get teary eyed because I know there was an ending and more of those moments won't be created, but you gave me so many beautiful moments that I love sharing with others because some people need hope that true love does exist.

I know you're settled down now. You found yourself a wife and a start of a family. The steps of engagement, marriage and family announcement were absolutely horrible to face on my end. However, when all the tears were wiped away and when reality finally came into sight, I realized how happy I was for you. When you love someone, all you want is for that person to be happy. I always thought I would be the one creating that happiness, but it turns out I'm not. The next best thing is to just accept it. Your happiness has always meant the world to me.

I'm sure if we see each other around, we will put our heads down and stare at our feet until we pass each other. I hate that it's become that, but I do understand. Just know that when you see me, I love you more.