Sincerely, Significant Other

I am not here, with you, to play games. My time is as valuable as yours.

When I looked into your eyes at the beginning, I didn't just see that moment...I saw a future with you. I saw us growing and flourishing together. I saw all the potential that we could be, even with our flaws. I won't try to change who you are.

Honestly, I am not always easy to be with. You are not always easy to be with. But...I didn't sign up for "easy". I signed up for something much better.

If you want to go FAST, go ALONE. If you want to go FAR, go TOGETHER.

It's a gift and a curse to see the best in people. Because ultimately, at some point, they're going to let you down. You're GOING to get disappointed from time to time, and it might hurt...because you had such high hopes and expectations for them - and they just didn't meet it.

Just because I am with you now, doesn't mean I will be forever. I have boundaries, morals, and self-worth high enough that if ever it's pushed too far/too many times...I will walk away.

I am not here, with you, to play games. I devote my loyalty and love to you unconditionally...so please, do not make me feel belittled.

Don't abuse my patience to the point where I no longer want to wait for you. Don't spit negative commentary to me (about me) occasionally...hoping that it's not enough for me to notice. Don't spend an entire day with me, next to me, but not be present with me (trust me, Facebook and social media will still be there tomorrow). Don't expect me to be enamored by your material offerings...I don't care much for those. Don't ask me if I'm okay when you know there's something wrong - I need you to talk to me.

Show me your attention, your intimacy, your thoughts...and I will show you my heart. It may have already been broken before, but I've been strong enough to rearrange the pieces and move on. Only fools let themselves love once. It may take time to break down my walls...but once you do, I'll show you my kingdom.

When you make a promise to me, keep it. If you ever don't think you can keep it, than communicate that. Communicate EVERYTHING. Tell me what's bothering you...not so I can analyze your problems or offer solutions (unless requested)...but so I can listen to you. Hear you and understand you.

The cruelest punishment of all is silence...

An empty void leaving too much room for overthinking.

Sometimes we need our space to gather thoughts, but using silence as a common defense never survives.

Look me in the eyes and tell me there's no one else you'd rather be with. Look me in the eyes and honestly say you're not looking the other way.

I know this world is full of beautiful men and women everywhere, I already know that. So please, don't remind me while we're together. I need you to show me that I'm the only one you see being with. You must understand that as women and men, we are constantly under the microscope about how we look - rather than how we feel. I don't need to be fed compliments, but I need you to lift me up. You are my rock and speak to my strengths, not my weaknesses.

And your friends...you love them. My friends...I love them. I may not like all of your friends, and you may not like all of mine...but as long as they don't change who we are - respect those relationships. Same goes with family!

I am not here, with you, to play games. We're adults. We are all living, breathing, heart-beating beings with emotions...so don't think for a second that what you do and say doesn't affect me. It does. All of it. I can forget a few years from now what you said and did every day, but I will NEVER forget how you made me feel.

Just because I am already yours, doesn't mean you can stop pursuing me. It doesn't mean you can stop showing me why you love me. It doesn't mean your hard work is done. Continue to win me over, and I will return it tenfold.

We will never be perfect together. We will have moments of frustration. But if there's one thing we can agree on to make things last, it's this:

I love you enough to want to make you happy every single day. Because your happiness is my happiness. <3

So please, don't let me down.