It has been over a year since you left me. I remember how happy I thought I was with you and how heartbroken I was when you broke up with me. I didn't think I would ever recover. I didn't know how I could ever love anyone as much as I loved you.

Here I am 12 months later. I have a job I love. A family that supports me. Money saved for a rainy day. A new girl who makes me wonder why I ever thought it would work with you, but I'm not here to bash you. I'm not even here to tell you I never loved you. I'm here to tell you, thank you.

Thank you for breaking my heart. Thank you for helping me to become the best person I can be. Thank you for telling me that you didn't love me anymore. Thank you for being the first girl I ever truly loved.

We had our ups and we had a lot of downs. I wasn't ready to be happy yet when I found you. I took the summer to focus on myself and that was the best thing I ever did. I traveled by myself and I finally took care of myself first. I was able to come to terms with my sexuality because of you. Thank you for helping me to come out.

I stopped my bad habits because you told me to. Without you I honestly don't think I could say if I would be in the same place I am now. I am truly a happy person now. You were patient with me when I hit rock bottom. You took me to therapy when I truly needed it. Thank you for helping me to come to terms with my past.

I fell head over heels in love with a girl 9 months after you left. I can't imagine anyone else by my side right now. She is one of the best things that ever happened to me. Thank you for leaving me so that I could have her.

So even though I know you'll never read this, thank you. Thank you for walking out of my life and never looking back. Thank you for breaking my heart into a million pieces and never cleaning up the mess. It was the best decision you could have made. Thank you for leaving me.

Yours truly,

The first girl you ever loved.