Thank you.

Thank you for making me realize that I do not need you to be happy. Thank you for forcing me to find joy within myself. Before, I was so dependent on feeling accepted by you and all that was around me but today I recognize that was foolish of me. Confidence and beauty lies within my hands, not someone else’s opinion of me. Thank you for pushing me to accept myself for who I am and love it every second of the way. I would not be the person I am today without you and our wonderful time spent together.

Thank you for showing me what I deserve and teaching me how to act in a relationship. I learned so many lessons about love and about compromise that I would have never experienced had it not been for you. The knowledge I have gained from you I cannot thank you enough for.

Thank you for all the memories. Thank you for all the late-night ice cream runs (my favorite), and the last-minute dinner dates. Thank you for annihilating me in literally every game we play, from poker, to sequence, to putt putt, I have completely forgotten what it feels like to win (but I am totally okay with that).

Thank you for lazy days and cuddling me until I fell asleep in your arms (which was a lot). Thank you for supporting me in everything I did, including attending my grueling dance recitals. I’m thankful that I had you by my side as I started a new chapter of my life and entered college because I probably wouldn’t have survived without your encouragement. Thank you for pushing me to pursue my dreams and reach my full potential. And thank you for loving me on my worst days and putting a smile on my face day after day. Of course, I am sad that it is all over, but I am smiling because it happened and I got the pleasure of loving you for over two years.

But most importantly, thank you for showing me love. I now know what it is like to love someone and to be loved. I don’t mean just any love, but natural, unforced love. The kind of love you read about in fairytales and see in movies.

The love that leaves you grinning so long, your cheeks ache. Never once, did I have to question my affection for you and to me that means the most. Thank you for giving me more than I could ever expect or ask of any soul.

And lastly, even though we may not be together anymore, please know you are nothing shy of perfect.

Just not perfect for me.