From the very beginning, I knew our relationship was going to be different. Most people our age date just for the sake of dating, or they decide to be in a relationship because they think that's what they're supposed to do.

But not you and I.

Neither one of us had been in a serious relationship before. I had never had a boyfriend or even really been on a date before. You had a few girlfriends in high school, but nothing really long term. In the end, we were both very thankful for our inexperience. We knew that this step we were taking with each other was rare for both of us.

That made it even more special.

When you asked me to be your girlfriend, I looked back at you with a worried face and said: "are you sure?" We laugh about it now, but at the time I was completely serious. I was terrified. I didn't know how to be someone's girlfriend, or even how to be myself while in a relationship. We had been best friends for a long time, but I knew that everything was going to change. I knew I was going to change, but I had no idea how much. More importantly, I had no idea that it would all be for the better.

I never thought that in falling in love with you I would learn to fall in love with myself, too.

You know how some people refer to their partner as their better half? Well for us, I know that's definitely true. You bring out the best in me, and you make me a better person every single day. And as ironic as it may seem, I now that while dating you, my independence has only grown.

You give me the courage and confidence to pursue all of my dreams fearlessly. You help me be bold and brave. I know I can do all these things without you, but part of what makes me love you so much is the fact that I honestly don't want to. I love who I am when I'm with you. And I love who we are when we're together.

I love that our old soul personalities are only enhanced when we're together. We'd choose binge watching our current tv show over an exciting night out on the town anytime. We both know that a classic dinner and a movie kind of date suits us more than any new and trendy date ever could. Staying up past midnight is extremely late for us, and sleeping in past eleven is just wasting our day together. We're old school and old souls to our core, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I didn't just fall in love with you. I fell in love with us. I love who we both are as individuals, but I love who we are as a couple even more.

"The best part of the day is when you and me become we."