A Love Letter

I forgive you.

I forgive you for hating me for being imperfect. I forgive you for always doubting me. I forgive you for the harm you have done to me over the years. I forgive you for expecting me to achieve the unattainable and then punishing me when I fail. I forgive you for hiding behind a mask, even from me. I forgive you for not understanding why so many people love me. I forgive you for expecting so much of me that you never saw my accomplishments. I forgive you for not understanding my true worth. I forgive you for telling me every day that I’m fat, and that I’m not worthy of love.

I forgive you for these things because I know that you will not do them anymore. I know this because I am not going to let you do them anymore. From now on, we will work together. We will take care of ourselves, not in order to change ourselves to fit some ideal, but because we deserve it. We deserve to have a rich, full life. We deserve to cast off the shallow; the false and temporary pleasures; the harmful vices. We deserve real joy; sustainable pleasure; enriching experiences. We deserve love.

I promise to take care of you for as long as I live. I promise to do all I can to provide you with a life you love. I promise to do all I can to keep you healthy and safe. I love you, and I now realize that you are the most important person in my life. I have never treated you like you are important, and in return you have never loved me. I see now how important you are. Without you, I am literally nothing.

Because you are me. And I forgive you. Now let’s move forward.