Dear Hon,

If anyone had asked me whether we’d last this long, many years ago, I don’t know what my answer would’ve been. We loved; we leaped. Over the course of our time together, we’ve put each other through a lot. Harsh words, regrettable actions, but we always cleave to one another and offer forgiveness. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

I joke that my life turned into a Harlequin plot quite unexpectedly, and that’s certainly true in that you are my hero. By going to work every day, you make it possible for me to live my dream, being with you and with our daughter. I am, quite possibly, the luckiest woman on the face of the planet. I know I can be difficult because I spend so much time in my own head, but whenever I come out of that dreamworld, I always find you waiting for me, and that means more than you can imagine. I appreciate you. I cherish you. Your faith in me buoys me up and makes me want to do better, be better and stronger than I ever imagined I could.

To be honest, I don’t believe in soul mates. I think people can make it work, if they try hard enough, if they keep fighting toward each other, make compromises, and remember why they wanted to be with this person in the first place. You? You fell in love with my writing, first. You were my first fan. The first person who believed I could do this. And you have believed all the way, all along, even when I had all but lost hope. You kept me strong, kept me believing in my dream. And even when I was ready to give up on myself, you weren’t. You’ve never given up on me, even when I didn’t think I was worth it. You’ve stood by me through fire and flood, an international move, and more. Though I don’t believe in soul mates, you are the one, the only one, with whom I want to share this journey. I want you beside me always.

For you, on our anniversary, a poem by Sara Teasdale:

It will not change now
After so many years;
Life has not broken it
With parting or tears;
Death will not alter it,
It will live on
In all my songs for you
When I am gone.