Friendship is love set on fire. That is what 15-year-old me was thinking about when I began high school and having a boyfriend or girlfriend seemed more real than anyone who was dating in middle school. High school meant more freedom and new people, so more chances of meeting people. Most of my friends had boyfriends, but their relationships lasted a few months, and then they'd break up and start hating each other, you know, the typical young high school love.
Upon meeting my boyfriend, I really didn't have any intentions of dating. We became really close friends, and I didn't want to ruin that; but one thing lead to another and I realized how much I actually cared for him. Considering the both of us were still sophomores in high school, anything could have happened, we were both so young. I mean, we both cared about each other a lot, which was obvious, but it was not until senior year of high school, two years after we began dating that it became evident we did not fall into that high school relationship category anymore.
I'm not going to tell you that everything about my relationship is, or was, rainbows and butterflies; nothing ever is. What I am going to tell you is that when you hit some bumps in the road, and you both care enough to work through whatever problem has come up, or stick around when the going gets tough, that's when you know it's real. When you don't let the harsh words of outsiders hurt you, or the awful rumors make you question what you have together, that's when you know it's real. When you can get annoyed at each other but, in the end, smile at each other and only move forward with life, that's when you know it's real.
I've learned so much from my boyfriend over the past seven years. I've learned about who he is and where he comes from. I've learned about how caring he is with his family and friends, and how hard he works. I've learned that chivalry isn't dead, and that it's the simple things that are the most noticeable. I've learned more things about cars than I thought I'd ever know, and I've learned how to tune, play and restring a guitar. Most importantly, I've learned about myself. When you can grow with a person, and still learn new things about not only them, but you can learn new things about yourself, that's how you know it's real. Seven years later and the two of us have still never run out of things to talk about.
Though it may seem crazy and unreal to people that two 22-year-olds have been together since the age of 15, that's what makes it special. I'm proud to say that I had someone by my side through the good and the bad times, someone who supported me through three years of high school and all of college. I'm proud that I had someone's shoulder to cry on and someone who held my and when times got tough. I'm proud that I had someone to laugh with me and share some of my most memorable memories with. We've practically grown up together, and I wouldn't take anything back. I'm proud that I gained another family, and some new friends. I'm also proud to say that I have experienced what real love is, and that loving someone is just a wonderful feeling.
Though we may be young, I'm proud of everything my relationship has taught me and everything I'm still learning. I have both a boyfriend and a best friend. Seven years later and everyday is still a new adventure. Though we still hit some bumps in the road, as everyone always will, it only makes us stronger. I'm proud to say we are in love, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
