A piece of my heart will always belong to you. As much as I try to pretend that it doesn’t, I can’t keep lying to myself. So, I’m going to just spill my truth out instead of hiding behind a smile.

A piece of my heart will always belong to you. It doesn’t matter that it was young love. It doesn’t matter that it was first love. All that matters is that, it was real love. Truly. It was true love. The kind of big love that everyone dreams of. That was us.

No matter how many days and years go by, you will always have that piece of me. The piece that was youthful, full of playful energy, and full of life. The piece that was hopelessly in love with you and that prayed we would never end. You will always have the piece of me that was overly emotional. The piece that was unstable, because that’s how much I needed you. The piece that was full of joy, but also full of great sadness. You will always own that piece of me.

And I wouldn’t want it in the hands of anyone else.

You will always have a piece of my heart. The piece that was ugly and beautiful. The piece that looked into your eyes and saw forever. The piece that could never envision a goodbye. And the piece that will forever think of you as  ‘the one that got away’.

I’m not ashamed of that piece of my heart. I’m not going to cover my eyes from it anymore. Because that piece of my heart, was full of hope. And was full of undying love. It was hopelessly optimistic.

Take care of that piece of me.

Take care of me at seventeen. Take care of that piece of innocence. And know that, that piece of me will always love you. And it will always belong to you.