You came to me when I'd been alone. Though I'd felt strong, you made me aware of my weaknesses by building me up and making me feel more loved and appreciated than I had before. I felt the most confident I'd ever felt knowing I had you by my side.

So when we went our separate ways, I felt like a piece of me was missing. I'd given you everything I could think of - all of my secrets and a side of me I let few others see - and I had to watch as you took it all before deciding you ultimately didn't want it.

I thought I had to fill the space you left because I knew I could never get back what I gave you. I asked questions you wouldn't answer, sought distractions from our situation, and even looked for someone to replace you. I kept searching for something or some way to feel whole again.

Then I realized that it fell upon me to fill the whole you left in my life. I didn't need anything from anyone else - not even you.

I didn't need my secrets back. I didn't need to take back all of the memories. I needed to keep building myself by having new experiences.

You'll always know who I was when we were together, but just as you have changed since then, I have as well. We have pieces of each other's youths - pieces that had to be given to grow into the people we are today - and we'll continue to give pieces of ourselves to those who become dear to us.

You have a portion of my life that I can never edit or erase and moments that will be unique to our story. You have the secrets of the person I was when we were together, but someday soon, I'll have an entirely new set of secrets that you won't know about.

What I gave you is and always will be yours, even if you don't want it anymore. I gave that part of myself to you for a reason and I wouldn't take it back if I could; you were a significant part of my story that I'll look back on one day with a smile.

Although what I gave you is valuable, the part of me that I'm rebuilding will be stronger. I had gotten so used to having you build me up that I forgot how to do it on my own. I relearned and redefined who I am and what I'm capable of, and I can't be more excited to see who I become.

Yes, I gave you a part of my soul that I can never get back, but I am not broken because of it. Yes, you took a piece of me when you left and I wasn't whole for a while, but I am no longer empty because you're gone.

I am on the path to feeling more complete than ever because in leaving, you also took what was preventing me from growing into the person I'm meant to become.