because of you

I wanted you, I got you. Just like that, it seemed. You were a dream come true. My dream come true. I moved to a brand new city for you. I had to. I wanted to. Wide-eyed and ready, but scared out of my mind. Because of you, I got my very first apartment. A tiny little space that I couldn’t keep clean for the life of me. And then I got a cat. That furry little ball of love who quickly became my world. I learned how to edit a photo because of you. And edit and edit and edit I did. Videos, too, and words, as well. So many, so many, so many words. I went to California for you, and Chicago, too. I freaked out in the rain with a dead cell phone in my hand and thousands of dollars of unprotected electronics in my bag. I drove to Maine because of you. And then to Vermont. With no cell phone service and tears in my eyes. Yes, I cried because of you, and stressed the fuck out because you... but I also laughed because of you, every single day. I got acupuncture because of you. Then I tried Reiki. Ayurveda. Access Bars. Ever so slightly my world evolved into a totally different place. All because of you. Because of you I made my own beauty products. I learned so many benefits of so many foods, herbs, and oils. More than I can ever try to recall. More than I may ever even want to. I fell in love because of you. A love that showed me feelings I never knew existed. I fell in love because of you, and then, one day, back out of it. But within that short span were some of the sweetest memories I’ve ever made. Ones I’ll hold with me forever. I met some of the best people in the entire world because of you. People I connect with in ways I’ve never before experienced. People who’ve taught me more than I’d ever have dreamt of being taught. Who’ve changed the way I look at so many things. People who’ve changed my entire life. People who I’ll keep in this life of mine forever.

Free People, you’ve given me so much. More than I ever could have imagined on that day. The day I sent you that stupid little video. The video that ended up changing the course of my entire life. Free People, I thank you for every little thing. Every terribly beautiful thing… right alongside every beautifully terrible thing. The time has come for me to move on, but you better believe I’m going with grace. With a smile on my face and love in my heart. I can’t wait to find out what’s next.