My Person

I was just discharged from the hospital again. Less than a week thankfully, but no hospital stay would be preferred. A fever that lingered over three weeks and weakened my body turned out to be another bad Lupus flare. My blood counts were low again and my body was again fighting itself. The doctors were quick to try and remedy me and I'm happy to say I'm on the mend again.

But that's not what this post is about. I want to talk about someone who came into my life completely by chance, without any expectation and has been around ever since. This human being is selfless, loves their family like I've never seen before, respects people in positions and occupations where so many people turn their noses down.

Over 8 years ago, I was single, had come out of a relationship that left me feeling vulnerable with low self-esteem. I was having a night out with a friend who had invited a couple of other friends she knew from high school. We all met and headed out. I knew nothing about these people and didn't expect anything other than just a fun night out on the town. The night was what was expected, a good time with new friends.

In the weeks to follow, we had hung out a few times just at our friend's house. Again, no expectations of anything. Just friends spending time together. That was until, he asked for my phone number. I was reluctant but gave it to him. In the weeks to follow, we texted regularly and got to know each other a little better. We hadn't hung out alone at this point but the night of my high school reunion, he came and picked my very intoxicated self up and came and hung out with my classmates until 4 in the morning. We've basically spent every day together since. He was the biggest gentleman, didn't take advantage of my altered state and each day, proved that he is the sweetest man I'll ever know.

It took me a couple of years to realize it, not feeling worthy of truly being happy or deserving of being treated with so much love and respect but this man changed everything. In 2014, when I was diagnosed with Lupus, he was by my side every step of the way, fighting with me and being my source of strength when I didn't have any. He rooted for me during my victories and held me when I was weak. He took care of me like I could have never expected. For whatever reason, it took me two whole years to tell this man I loved him, as if the word would jinx it.

In the years to follow, our bond has gotten stronger. Not to say we haven't had our issues. When we fight, they can be good ones but we work at our relationship and respect each other's feelings. He's built me up and makes me feel like the most beautiful person he's ever laid eyes on each and every day. He's broken down walls I didn't realize I had built so high. He's made me feel deserving of love again.

As you know, the last year has been a trial. My health has been the worst it's ever been. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have this man in my life. He literally does everything for me that I can't. Despite what he may be going through, he always puts me first. This last stay in the hospital, he literally helped bathe me because I was too weak to do it on my own. This isn't the first time either. He's constantly proving time and time again, with things that may not mean much to some but mean the world to me, that he's here for the long haul. He's here for the best of me and clearly for the absolute worst of me. And he loves me unconditionally through all of it. I'm not sure what I did to deserve someone like him or how I got so lucky but I'm incredibly thankful we just happened to meet all those years ago.

He's my whole world. My everything. My strength. My happiness. My light. My sparkle. My love. My PERSON.