She was born a romantic.

She had always been in love with love. But something was different now: this time it was her turn. She lay there, snuggled up with him in a room lit by twinkle lights and a movie playing on the screen, thinking that she was the most content thing in the world. She turned her head and kissed him and he leaned over a bit so that his mouth was at her ear and whispered, “I love you so much. I want you and only you. I want it all. I want your children, the white picket fence—everything.”

It was as if she had been thirsty her entire life and suddenly she was being filled. It was like she had never known that a piece of her was missing, but suddenly she was feeling whole. Warmth filled her chest and spread until it reached the tips of her fingers and toes. Her head swirled and her heart felt it might burst.

She would remember this moment in the years to come. It would become a defining moment: I can be loved completely. I can love back. I can choose this path. No matter what hurt it may bring, this sense of complete joy will balance it out. It will be worth it to become a new me with someone who can make me feel like this. She didn’t really like herself that much anyway; there were improvements to be made. But at this moment, with him by her side, all snuggled in and loving her, she could see her potential. She suddenly recognized what he saw in her and she unwittingly believed him.


Jake, thank you for being the father of my children. You have blessed our lives in all the best ways.