Screwed up relationships keep working when perfect ones explode ...

Once upon a time, there was this girl, who wasn't like most girls her age. She loved music, and being different, but nobody really understood her. She didn't really like herself very much because she thought there was something wrong with her. She felt so alone.

Then she met a boy that completely changed her life.

He was funny, and could ALWAYS make her laugh. He understood her stupid sense of humour, and even laughed at some of her jokes. He was compassionate and accepting to her, which scared her at first because she wasn't used to that. But he trusted her, and she soon learned how to trust him too. He shared his life with her, they talked about everything - music, friends, guitars, clothing. They almost never ran out of things to say. He was always there when she needed to talk, and he ALWAYS made her feel good enough. During some of the hardest times of her life, he was there for her, helping her through it all. He was always on her side, even when her side maybe wasn't the best side to be on. But out of all the wonderful things he did for her, there was one that stood out the most: he taught her how to love, and feel love in return.

You see, love isn't what the say it is. It's not starry eyes and roses. It's NOT a silly little moment. Those are parts of love, responses to it, but love is - fundamentally - so much more.

She learned that love was talking until 3 am and not running out of things to say. She learned that love didn't mean they had to date, or 'like' each other. Love meant falling asleep texting, or standing in a lighting storm for three hours. Love was singing duets and recording them at midnight in his basement. Love meant disagreeing, and sometimes fighting, but always knowing they cared enough to even fight at all. Love puts up with faults, and forgives mistakes. Love doesn't quit.

They've been friends for three years now. They've grown - together AND seperately. They've changed. Their love has changed too. But he's still the only one she can go to with bed head and morning breath, wearing pajamas and no makeup and feel as comfortable and beautiful as if she'd spent 6 hours to look perfect.

He's going off to university now, and she needs him to know she'd die if he ever forgot her. The future's not certain for either of them, and she's scared. But she knows she can face it as long as he's on her side, and she hopes he feels the same way, because if he doesn't, she's just made an idiot of herself by writing this letter.

(And she REALLY doesn't need help in that area.)

I don't think I ever want to win the Nervous Game against you. Please be my friend forever?

Manda <3