— all of the small things that you do
are what remind me why i fell for you.
in the stillness of early morning, weeks before today, i sat - pen trembling, thoughts spinning, asking myself: where do i begin? how do i capture the symphony of emotions that rises at the very thought of you?
another year has turned, and with it, you’ve grown. quietly, beautifully, gaining wisdom like sunlight gathering on your skin. to witness you bloom, day by day, is the rarest gift this life has handed me. even when you can’t see the changes, i do. even when the weight of the world bows your shoulders, i see the strength in your spine, the fire in your soul, and the way you always rise.
today, the world quietly celebrates you. twenty-seven years since your first breath, and i marvel at the passage of time. because to me, it still feels like yesterday. the moment we met, everything aligned. our laughter, our quirks, the rhythms of our speech. like the universe cracked open and whispered, here is your person.
it hasn’t all been gentle. we both know the bruises we carry. but if given the choice, i’d do it all over again. every twist and turn, every storm, if it meant finding my way to you. i regret nothing. not a word, not a glance, not a choice. because every road brought me closer to you. the teasing, the banter, the tentative flirtation—it’s all been a wild ride, and you know how i live for the thrill.
i don’t say it enough: how much i admire you. how striking you are, in soul, in heart, in mind. you’ve always been rare. from the start, i trusted you with a quiet part of me no one else had touched. you were my confidant, my calm. and now… now you live in a place no one else can reach, tucked safely in the heart of me.
there’s something holy in how we move together. even when time is scarce, even when we’re tired, you make time. you choose me. and i, you. every morning, every night. we’ve built something steady, real. a sanctuary made from patience, laughter, late-night talks, and knowing glances.
even when fear taps on the door, even when doubt clouds the light, we stay. we fight through it all, hand in hand. we are still learning, still growing, still shedding old skins and nurturing new beginnings. but there’s no one else I’d want to learn beside. i hope you know this. i hope you feel it. always.
thank you for being you. for standing beside me, for championing my dreams, even when they seem far-fetched. for being the calm in my chaos, the anchor in my tide. for letting me walk with you, laugh with you, love you.
hydes, my love—on your birthday, i wish you everything your heart dares to dream. may your days be rich with joy, your soul filled with peace, and your path illuminated by wonder. may you find fulfillment, ease, and fire for life in every breath. you know i always say i just want you to love your life, and that’s never changed. there’s a particular magic in watching you in your element, thriving, glowing. and I’ll never tire of it. never tire of you.
happy birthday, baby. here's to you—forever and always—my gitchee gitchee goo (the sweet, silly nickname that started it all), my sanctuary, my shelter, the one who knows my quiet. you are my trusted guardian of secrets, my moonshine keeper, a dream heaven dared to send. my compass, my constant, my everything.
