a love letter

The Freewrite Friday prompt for this week was to write a love letter to someone. The twist was, it had to be someone who would never see it. This is mine.

Dear Joe,

I never told you, but I think you are the first boy who ever loved me. What I find so remarkable about it is that you loved me the way a man loves a woman. Not like a boy at all. You weren't selfish with your love. You weren't eager to show me off or brand me with a ring, a jacket, a kiss. You just loved me. You just wanted to spend time with me. You smiled every time you saw me. Every single time. You grinned when I laughed and it was a grin I never saw you give at any other time.

I just wanted to thank you for that.

Well, for that and for so many other things. For the way you patiently taught me to hit a baseball - and not like a girl. (You know, my stance is still terrific.) For teaching me all the things a country boy knows that this city girl didn't. To love hiking, to drive fast and crazy on big curves, to appreciate big old American cars, to climb haylofts and old silos just because they're there, to climb up on roofs and watch the stars come out on a summer night, to keep playing ball even after the sun had set because there's just nothing like a game among friends. Did you know you gave me so much? I bet you did. And I never thanked you. But I do now. Thank you, Joe. Thank you.

I cringe a little when I think back to the girl I was and how oblivious I was. You told me only once that you loved me and you did it in a poem you gave me one of the last times I ever saw you. A poem I still have, by the way. A poem I still treasure. I was silly then. And young. A girl where you were already a man; at least in matters of the heart. I wonder what I would have done if you had ever told me with words? You see, I thought then that love declared itself with pretty words and passionate glances across the room. I didn't know that real love is about giving. And sharing. About unselfishness. And laughing. And being good, good friends.

You were all those things to me. And I want to say thank you.

Because even though I didn't know it at the time. Even though I doubt you knew it either, you were teaching me about love. About what I should look for in a man. And, Joe, I found it. I did. Jeffrey is all that and so much more. He is my match in every way. He is my heart, my life, my center. He is all I ever wanted. And, in part, I owe that to you.

If you could read this, I know you would be happy. You would grin to know that Jeffrey is a country boy, too. And that he smiles every time he sees me. You would be happy that I am so well loved. Happy that I have learned to love unselfishly. Happy that I am so very blessed. If you could read this, I would want you to know that I love you, too. Thank you, my good friend. Thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day.
I pray you are loved as you deserve to be. Today and every day.

Love,
Relyn

The picture doesn't really match the post, but it sure matches the day. Happy Valentine's Day, my friend.