I'm in love. I have been for almost two years, and I can honestly say that they have been the best two years of my life.

To give you a little background, I have known my boyfriend for over half of my life. We have been best friends for 16 years. When I was a kid, my mom used to say that he was the guy I was going to marry. It's strange and exciting to think that may actually be the case. I remember thinking that dating him would be like someone dating their brother, and that it would never happen. But now, 16 years later, we are as happy as any couple could be. It feels like I'm living a fairytale.

Many relationship experts agree that the best couples start off as best friends, and I find that to be incredibly true. Granted, my boyfriend and I skipped the "getting to know you" phase of the relationship, but it honestly made things a lot easier. We already knew what each other's interests were, what our families were like, what our goals were, etc. And by becoming a couple, we learned things about each other that no one else knew. While we still had to adjust to each other's personalities in a more personal way, it didn't take long, and it wasn't much of an adjustment. Knowing someone for that long has its perks when transitioning into a romantic relationship.

I can honestly say that dating my best friend has been the best decision I ever made. I had struggled for so long to find someone that I connected with and could relate to that I didn't realize the person for me was right in front of me all along. I have a gut feeling that he's the one I'm going to spend my life with, and that's a feeling that is both wonderful and frightening. Obviously, I'm worried about the possibility of us breaking up. I would hope that we could remain friends, but I guess it would depend on the circumstances.

But if I can offer any advice to someone who is considering taking their friendship to the next level, I say go for it! You may end up in the most fulfilling relationship of your life.