It's safe to say that in life, nothing stays the same. Things change, people change and as time goes on, situations evolve. Change can be hard to grasp, especially when it's something — or someone — you've become accustomed to over a long period of time. For me, that's you.

As change takes place, people can begin to grow apart. Relationships can be tried and tested on levels we never thought possible, and believe me when I say that our relationship has been dealt some pretty crappy hands, but we've played most of them well. Sometimes that's just what you have to do — play the hand you've been dealt. As much as we hate to admit it though, sometimes there comes a point when there's no other move, so you simply have to fold — such is life.

So, my love, this is for you..

It's been an adventure, the time I've spent with you. I'll always cherish the memories we shared. You were the love of my life, my rock to lean on when times got hard. You were the hand I loved to hold and the smile that melted my heart. Yours was the voice I wanted to hear telling me that everything was going to be OK. You were the one that I wanted to see the most on the good days as well as the bad. I was convinced that we'd be together forever. In fact, I thought you were my soulmate. Had you asked me a year ago, I would have said that you'd be the man I'd marry and start a life with.

But here we are, a ways on down the road. I can't help but to look back and think of what could have been done differently to have saved us as a couple. The truth is there really was nothing anyone could have done. We just simply weren't meant to be forever, and that's OK. We both started to change so much, we just didn't realize what was happening until it was entirely too late. By the time either of us realized, the fighting had already begun. We'd started to clash in ways we didn't understand. We were just changing so much that we were growing apart and didn't know how to handle it. I know damn good and well that I never wanted to lose you; I'd like to say you felt the same. The thought of losing you was so unbearable that instead of just ending our relationship when we should have, we let it go too far. I made mistakes, and in time, so did you. In the end we both ended up hurt.

Now here we are today, and I'm finally beginning to realize that nothing in this life is guaranteed. While it would have been nice to be your forever and always, life had another plan for us. We grew apart, and that's OK. People change — we changed.

With that said, I want you to know this:

I am honored to have gotten the chance to love and be loved by you. Thank you for all of the laughs and the tears we shared. You have no idea what you did for me in the time we had together. You were the perfect fairy tale. I will always love you, and I know that a part of you will always love me too. But I also know that we will never love the same. Although we had the time of our lives for a while, there comes a point when one realizes that it may be time to let go. As much as it pains me to admit it, I feel as though it very easily could be that time for you and me.

Although you may not be my forever and always the way I hoped, I'm thankful to have had you as my favorite once upon a time.

With love always,

The girl you used to love, and maybe even still do.