I don't even know where to begin. Granted, as a naive romantic I thought your son and I would last forever. I really thought we had that, Can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, World Series kinda stuff. Now that I feel I've struck out and lost the game, I wonder where that puts me with my fans (y'all...).

For so long, I was a part of your family. I took care of your house and your plants and your pets and your boy wholeheartedly, and happily. I don't regret the time I had with your son. We grew apart and that is not a reflection on anyone but ourselves. I owe you so much, not only did you impact my life in such a positive way, you also protected me and treated me as your own.

Thank you for meeting my entire family on Easter Sunday. I remember walking through the door and seeing you hug my sister, thinking that she was the one for whom your youngest had been ironing his shirt for the last hour for. Over time, you welcomed me and treated me as your own daughter. Holidays, family birthdays and vacations were always spent at your house with your family. Your other children felt like older siblings to me, teasing me when I deserved it but comforting me when I needed it. I even had my "own room" at your house. Your puppies knew my voice, my shampoo was in your shower, my bobby pins riddled your carpet. I left so much of me around your house, can you imagine how much of me left with him?

When it became time to choose a college, I wanted something very far from Texas. I was ready to leave but I didn't want to be alone. You allowed me the independence I needed to grow and experience college while also providing that underlying support and love and encouragement I needed to move forward.

It's been a few months since the breakup now and even though seeing him with her still stings I know this is what was supposed to happen. I believe your son was a pivotal part of my growing up. I have found my niche in Minnesota, I found people that love me for me, I found people that love the same poems as me, and I couldn't be happier with either the journey or the destination.

So, maybe it wasn't that, Can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, World Series kinda stuff. Maybe I did strike out. So what if I lost this game? Maybe I was never meant to play baseball at all.