21,840 hours. 910 days. 130 weeks. 30 months. Two and a half years. You came into my life without warning and you turned it completely upside down. For that, I will be forever thankful.

I wasn't looking for a relationship when I messaged you for the first time. I had just gotten out of a rather serious relationship and I was trying to give my heart time to heal. I wanted to focus on school and on getting myself back to a place where I could smile again. But I can't even begin to explain the feeling I got in my stomach, in my chest, when you replied to my message. Despite everything I had told myself, I knew I was going to fall for you. And I'm glad I did because if I hadn't I wouldn't have found my best friend, the person I can depend on.

I wouldn't have found the love of my life.

You have been by my side for two and a half years. You've supported me through my academic endeavors, always cheering me on and rooting for me. You've always believed in me and you're encouragement is more than I could ever ask for. You can sense when I'm upset or stressed out, and sometimes you make me talk it out; you make me sit down and stop working and talk about why I'm stressed out. And you listen. You take the time to listen to me and talk with me until I'm feeling a little bit better-but sometimes you don't. Sometimes you don't say anything. You just wrap your arms around me and kiss my cheek. I know that's your way of showing me you care, letting me know that you're here for me without saying anything. You don't have to say anything. Just knowing that you're there, on the other side of the room if I need you, is enough.

You always tell me that I'm your better half, and I just laugh and shake my head. Do you realize that you're more than that to me? You're more than just my other half, my better half. You push me to be the best I can be. You inspire me because you're so loving and so supportive. Sometimes I wonder how I fell in love with you. Wait. That sounds bad. I don't mean that in a negative way. I don't mean that in a "Holy shit why did I do this?" way. I mean that in a "Holy shit how did I get so damn lucky?" way. I often find myself pausing throughout the day and thinking about you. I'm proud of you, and watching you succeed warms my heart. Watching you succeed, watching you overcome all obstacles to reach your goals, inspires me to make the most of my life. You are my inspiration. My motivation. My rock.

We fight. No relationship is perfect, and every couple has rough spots. We have our own personal flaws, and occassionally we irritate the shit out of one another, but at the end of the day we still love one another more than we've ever loved another person on this earth. You accept me for who I am, despite my craziness and my irrationality. You embrace me for the person that I am, and I couldn't ask for a better person to have in my life.

You have brought me so much love, laughter, and joy in that last two and half years, and we have had so many adventures together. I am beyond excited for the plans we have for this summer, for our plans for the future, and for the amazing adventures that we will have together.

I love you to the moon and back. ❤️