To the one who taught me to love again,

I had stop sending paragraphs to people. I had stopped begging for people to give me bare minimum. I even stop telling people how they should treat me. I was in my walking away phase. Distancing myself from people places and things that don’t bring joy and goodness to me. And that’s when I met you.

As I grow older, and grow more mature, I think of you often. Not in the lovey, miss you kind of way, but in the mature gratitude way. And how special you were to me and my growth. You will probably never understand but let me use this as the words I wish I could tell you.

I am so grateful for all the words you said to me. We reconnected when I was at one of my lowest points in life. Questioning if there were even nice people in this world. I was learning to make friends and exploring the world. Trying anyway. And there you were. Willing to stand by me in the cold after a rough night, that’s all I needed. And just like that, I was hooked on your light.

Later on through our time together, you called me on my bullshit and that was all I needed at that point in my life. Someone to challenge my moves in a good way. It was how you challenged me to be better that I found so interesting. It was refreshing to know someone saw my actions and cared enough to speak out to me. Next thing I knew, you listened to me. Not just sit there with your phone but really heard me. And honestly I think I was so used to be treated so poorly that I didn’t know people could treat me so well. I know what you might be thinking; “This is all bare minimum basics.” I know that. But at this point in my life it had been years since I received that from any human. But especially a man.

Day by day you walked with me through my problems. A friend. A confidante. Someone who chose to wake up every day and not be half in half out. You’ll never quite understand how you helped or what you did. But you taught me to be open to people again. To laugh at the world and smile with joy. Not by telling me, but by making me laugh. Not by telling me what to do, but by showing me how you saw the world then.

I wouldn’t say you saved me. I did that. But you took an extremely bitter and in pain woman and said, “you can smile, life is good.” When our time came to an end it was sadness in my bones for a moment, but also you went out of your way to be there for me every step of our story. How could I be sad when I know all the way to my core that you wanted nothing but good for me? Just as I want absolutely nothing but pure happiness for you.

You told me I deserve it. And I would agree with you. I do. And this is me telling you, you do. Not only because you showed me to smile and laugh again. You deserve happiness and joy and all the good things in the world, because you have a good heart. I cannot wait to watch you succeed in life. And know, I thank you for treating me right so I can now love people properly again.

With all the joy to you and yours my friend,

A