If you held every star in the sky in your hands, I don't think you'd find one that shines quite the way you do to me. You have this way of turning ordinary evenings into the ones I replay in my head — the terrible jokes, the quiet rides, the way you say my name like it's the best word you know.

I didn't go looking for you. You just arrived, the way morning arrives — quietly, and then all at once, until I couldn't remember what my life looked like before you were in it. Since then, every good thing feels a little better because I get to tell you about it, and every hard thing feels lighter because you're the one carrying it with me.

I love the way you love — fully, patiently, without needing anyone to notice. I love the version of myself I get to be when I'm with you: softer, braver, endlessly fond. I hope you know that whatever else changes, this — us — is the one thing I keep choosing, over and over, without a single doubt.

So here's my heart, written out in words because it was too full to keep to myself. Thank you for being my favorite person, my safest place, and my very favorite story still being written.