Hi you,

As it turns out, it took a little longer than anticipated to put this letter down on paper. What I had thought would be a simple task turned out to be less straightforward than I imagined. In part because there’s something about writing with pen and paper that makes it more challenging to hide behind a veil of lightheartedness. And in part because I realized that the way I think and feel about you runs deeper and is more complex than I originally gave it credit for.

In a relatively short amount of time, the stranger from my phone has somehow become someone I care tremendously for. Someone I find myself wanting to make sure I say goodnight to before each day is over. Someone I can’t seem to learn enough about. And someone whose perspective on things carry weight with me.

Maybe it’s because there’s a certain gentleness in you that gets through some of my toughest barriers. Or perhaps it’s because beneath your strong exterior I catch glimpses of your vulnerable warmth. Two and a half months later I’m just as baffled by the effect your voice can have on means the first night. Our conversations about everything and nothing chips away at my indifference.

And while I’m not in any position to be making promises, you have my word that I will put in my hardest effort to understand and grow alongside with you. I’ll give you space when you need it, and close the distance when you want me to. You’re right that I don’t wear my heart on my sleeves, and sometimes what I say might not fully represent the extent of what I feel, but please know that irregardless of what may or may not come out of my mouth, I do like you a whole lot. Like to the moon and back type of a lot. I can’t fully express how glad I am that you’re in my life and it surprises me how happy I feel seeing you at the end of a long week, or getting a sweet text from you in the middle of an uneasy moment.

Sometimes between the day to day it’s easy for me to forget that nothing is a given. Your care, attention, mental space, and time - that’s a chance you’re making each moment we interact, and I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you and will constantly remind myself to not take you for granted.

It will be fun to see how the story keeps unfolding. At the end of thee day, regardless of what becomes of us, at the very least you’ll have another person in this world who cares a whole lot for you in me. And another person who wants to hear and listen to everything on your mind and in your heart. Closing this with something I’ve read and thought you may appreciate as much as I do:

“Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one things, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn’t. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted. A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle.

Which side wins? Love wins. Love always wins.”

Mags