I Want You to Know

3 - This Is How I Loved Him

I loved him with good morning and good night texts. I loved him by staying awake past my bedtime just to talk. I loved him by being content just to sit on FaceTime with him while we each did our own things.

I loved him by driving to see him every other weekend. I loved him by staying in a foreign town with no friends of my own, sitting his room for hours on my Friday and Saturday nights just waiting for him to get home. I loved him with as much patience as I had.

I loved him on his worst days and mine. I loved him with painted coolers and sticky notes and mason jar memories. I loved him with the truth, never telling him a lie. I loved him by leaving my comfort zone for him.

I loved him from the bleachers of the fields on which he played football, soccer, basketball, and more. If I could be there, I was. I loved him in the car as I stole a glance from the corner of my eye of his bobbing head singing "No Flex Zone." I loved him with bags of groceries full of his favorite foods.

I loved him by imagining our future. I loved him by never questioning his intentions towards me. I loved him without doubts, never thinking he'd leave.

I loved him with support in the face of adversity. I loved him when his plans changed after he didn't make the grades. I loved him when he got his job and then when he started to come home from his job discontented.

I loved him as he tried to find his way. I had hoped he would find his way back to me.