Falling in Love

"What does it feel like Ornela? What does it feel like to fall in love?"

"Falling in love is the most wonderful feeling in the world Bobby. You would do anything for the person you love."

On our last night together in Boston three years ago we spoke these words to each other. At the time, I did not understand what you meant. I did not understand how it was possible to love someone enough to literally do anything for them. But I do now. In that moment three years ago, you showed me what love truly is. You showed me that love is about giving yourself to someone, and when you are in love, when you feel that deepest love of all, you give yourself completely to your beloved. That is what I am doing right now. I am giving myself to you Ornela...because I am in love with you. 

You said that you have nothing left to give me, but you are wrong. Do you not understand that just being with you gives me everything I need? Do you not understand that just being with you makes me happy? That is why I could not stop smiling when we went out for drinks at the bar, or when we had lunch at Whole Foods, or even when we had those difficult conversations at Harvard on our first night together. Simply seeing your face, simply being with you makes me so happy. You think that you have nothing to give me...but the truth is that whenever I am with you, you give me everything I have ever wanted. I am not in love with some random attribute or quality you possess. My love for you is not contingent on the way you smile, or your laugh, or how you decide to wear your hair. I am in love with YOU. You make me happy. You make me smile. Ornela, you have already given me everything...you have given me love. Your love, the love that you have given me, is a treasure that I will hold in my heart forever.

Now it is time for me to give you something. I want to give you rest from all of the emotional pain you have been feeling. I know that you are so very tired, so exhausted by the emotional burdens that you have been carrying for so long. You don't have to do this anymore. You don't have to fight these demons alone. Talk to me about what you are going through Ornela. Find rest in my arms. Please just let me hold you as we carry your burdens together. You used to share your emotional pains with me, opening your heart so that I could help heal it. These moments brought us so close together because we made ourselves vulnerable to each other and both our love and trust for one another grew because of it. Will you open your heart so that I can help heal it? Will you make yourself vulnerable to me, just as I have made myself vulnerable to you, so that we can grow closer together and have a deep relationship that is built on a foundation of trust and love?

I am always here for you. I am here to listen to you, to cry with you, to laugh with you, and to love you. Your happiness and wellbeing come before everything else in my life because I love you...and I would do anything for you.

When you are ready to ask me into your heart, I will come.

I love you Ornela. I will always, ALWAYS, love you.

Love,

Bobby

p.s. You were right Ornela. Falling in love is the most wonderful feeling in the world.