[Partner’s name], it’s strange to think about now, but for a long time, the ideas of love and me didn’t make sense together. I knew what love was meant to be, thanks to fairy tales, movies, and other stories, but when I imagined myself in those situations, the scene went blank.

I definitely couldn’t imagine the warm calm I’d feel when you’d wrap around me, holding my hands in yours, or the slow, delicate way our lives came together. Through your compassion and patience, you helped me learn to love myself, to see the parts of me that I once believed were incompatible with romance, and how they could make me better. Little did I know that was just the beginning. 

I like just thinking about you—who you are, the way you laugh, the small daily things you do that remind me of why I’m so fortunate that we met. If any number of things had been different, our worlds may have never collided, but they did! And that’s rare and wonderful and I’m so glad that we have each other, that we love each other’s awkwardness.

[Partner’s name], I look forward to years and years of laying on the sofa together, laughing at stupid movies and falling asleep next to your warmth. Those little things are all I ever wanted. I’m going to do my best to cherish them, and cherish you, and enjoy this relationship we’ve built together.

It’s strange to think about now, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.