Dear boyfriend,

It might not have been love at first sight. You weren't always the object of my affection, I didn't always stare at you in awe, and I didn't picture a future with you. But, now I do.

You stole my heart in eighth grade, and you've had it ever since. Our relationship hasn't always been picture perfect. We have had our fair share of heartbreaks and disagreements, but we have always worked our way back to being the happy couple with all of the "#goals" comments.

You have showed me what it feels like to be loved (by someone other than a family member, of course). It means so much that you tell me I'm beautiful when my hair isn't done and I'm not wearing makeup, but it means even more that I can tell you actually mean it by the look in your eyes. You have also showed me what it is like to love someone else so deeply. One of my favorite parts about our relationship is feeling my heart grow closer to you every single day.

Being a perfectionist is hard, but you make it easier by always being proud of me, even for the little things. You recognize my hard work, and you celebrate my successes. What you don't know is that you inspire me to strive for success. I have watched you work hard and achieve success in everything you do, and that encourages me to do the same. When I tell you that I couldn't have done it without you, I mean it.

It's cliche, but having a boyfriend and a best friend all in one is the greatest thing I could ever ask for. You are always the first person I ask to go with me to events and the first person I vent to when things don't go my way.

We're on the same page all of the time. I am so lucky to have found someone who wants the same things that I do and who shares the same values as me. I love that you aren't afraid to pray with me and for me. When I picture the future, I can't picture it without you because you've made it impossible for me to think of it any other way.

Thank you for (almost!) five years of happy tears, good advice, and unconditional support. Thank you for being my date to every event, no matter how lame it is. Thank you for encouraging me to get dessert because you know it will make me happy. Thank you for the big hugs, forehead kisses, hand holds, cute nicknames, and foot massages. Thank you for trusting me, and for being trustworthy. Thank you for introducing me to your amazing family and for loving mine. Thank you for encouraging me to be a better person and pushing me to live up to my fullest potential. Thank you for being you.

I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us. The distance between us has nothing on our relationship. I'll always think the world of you.

Love,

Me.