To the boys who loved her before me,

I'd like to preface this letter by saying I, in no way, mean any disrespect or harm.

I have to be honest with you, I wish I could write this to make you feel bad. I wish I could write this to make you bitter. I wish I could write this to make you realize what you've lost. I wish I could write this to make you realize how good you had it before you let the world walk away and slip right through your fingers. I wish I could write this as nothing but a letter bragging to you about how happy we are and how much we love each other. A real, pure, and true love.

I refuse to do that, and as much as it kills me, I know you'll always hold a place in her heart. You two share memories that I could never take away or replace. Don't get me wrong, I have never and will never be jealous of you, but I will always envy the time you had with her before it was my turn. You had her before me and I can never top that. However, I promise you and everyone else alive, that there won't be another after me. I won't make the same mistakes you did, I won't let her be the one that got away.

She's been the girl of my dreams since the very second my eyes landed on her and my jaw hit the floor. Just her existence left me speechless. You were the only boy I've ever envied since the moment I found out about you. Whenever she would talk about you, it put a sour taste in my mouth. Something inside of me kept saying you were doing the job I was supposed to have, and you were doing it wrong. I knew we were meant to be, and one day we would be, but until then, I was bitter. Do you know how hard it is to watch the woman you care so deeply for continue to get hurt over and over again by someone who doesn't realize her worth?

Instead, this is a letter to say thank you. Yes, you read that right. To all the exes of the love of my life, thank you. Thank you for all you've done, because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have found my soulmate. I know what you're thinking, "soulmate, as if," but you're wrong and I can't wait to prove you wrong. I have never been so certain about anything in my life like I am certain about her. Unlike you, I know how great I've got it, and I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know I will never find someone who loves me so unconditionally as she does. I know I will never connect with another human on the level like how I connect with her. She has given me some of the greatest and most precious moments in my life, and I wouldn't have those had you not come before me. Not only were you crucial in the story of her life, but in mine as well, and for that, I must thank you.

Our paths never cross, but if we were to ever come face to face, I'd shake your hand and thank you. Thank you for not being the man of her dreams, and thank you for letting her walk away. Thank you for being so foolish enough to let someone so incredible slip through your fingers. Thank you for all the lessons you've taught her that she'll carry with her for the rest of her life. You've helped transform her into the strongest she's ever been, yet she still remains so kind, compassionate, and full of life. The next question I would ask you is, "How?"

How could you ever even stomach the thought of hurting someone so selfless and overflowing with love? How could you break and tear down a woman so amazing to the point where you are now the reason for some of her biggest insecurities? How could you hurt the last person in the world who deserves to feel any amount of pain? How does the thought of any of this even sit right with you? What on Earth were you thinking? Does it drive you crazy knowing what you've done? Because it should.

Maybe we aren't seeing the same person, but honestly, that's me searching for an excuse for you. How could you not see her for the human form of sunshine she is? It's hard not to see someone for what they are when everything they are is all that is right in this world. I've never met another person so patient, kind, understanding, forgiving, honest, fascinating, and captivating. The list goes on and on. I could write novels about the revolutionary and amazing woman she is. She is so quick to listen yet slow to speak. She's observant and takes the time to get to know me inside and out. She respects me and my needs. I can feel the love when I look into her eyes. I can feel her passion in the words she speaks. I feel the spark with every touch of her skin. No matter the circumstances, she's always there for me. She is my rock and my best friend. I don't know how you could ever give something like that up.

I have to be honest, there are times where I'll see old pictures of you two together and a fit of jealousy starts to build inside me, but then I remind myself that I have the happiness that you've never had. Our relationship isn't comparable to the one you had with her. Ours is real and made to last. Our love is true, it isn't possessive or demanding. I'm thankful that I recognize the beauty that you so foolishly left behind. I would never and could never make the same mistakes you did. The thought of upsetting her in the slightest makes me sick to my stomach. You may have had her first, but I have her now and that's what truly matters. Thank you for giving up, because unlike you, that's the last thing I could ever do.