I never thought I would hit the six month mark of a relationship, let alone stay with someone for this many years and still feel like I’m the luckiest girl alive.

In fact, I never thought I would use terminology like that — cliches that I used to consider stupid — that I am the luckiest girl alive with butterflies in her stomach who feels like she is walking on air because she has found her true soulmate.

I never thought that I would find a good enough reason to settle down. I always thought that I would be the skeptical, single girl. The girl who was secretly happy to be unattached because love always ends and no one can be trusted and I’m better off alone. But you changed my way of thinking. You turned me into someone who believes in the possibility of forever.

You turned me into the kind of person who would rather fall asleep with your arms wrapped around me than inside of a big, empty bed. Who would rather share a bedroom and a bathroom than live on my own. Who would rather spend the evening watching old cartoons on the couch than go out and get drunk.

Honestly, I never thought that I would find my forever person. I never thought that I would become half of a couple that all of my friends aww’ed over. I assumed that I was destined to be alone — or at best, destined to jump from person to person without ever finding someone who made me feel half as alive as you do — but you changed all of that.

You gave me a reason to open my heart. You gave me a reason to trust. You gave me a reason look forward to my future. Our future.

I never thought that I would find someone like you. Someone I never have to censor myself around. Someone who I can bawl my eyes out in front of, can curse someone out in front of, can throw up in front of, and you won’t like me any less.

I never thought that I would stumble across someone who genuinly cared about my happiness. Who was willing to sacrifice for me. Who was willing to put actual effort into our relationship every single day.

I never thought I would find someone who pushed me forward instead of holding me back. Someone who encouraged me to pursue my dreams instead of stifling them. Someone who was proud over every success that I have achieved.

I never thought I would find someone who fit me as well as you do. Who makes me smile. Who makes me laugh. Who makes me feel comfortable in my skin.

I never thought I would be in a relationship for this long with someone so perfect for me — but now that I am, now that I’ve met you, I know we are going to stay together forever. I know that our story will last a lifetime.