[freeasme120]

First and foremost - Thanks Vanessa for coming up with this thread .. it's incredible. It's inspiring.

Before I start, you have to know that my girlfriend is the first girl I've ever been in a relationship with - and she's amazing, and this story never fails to make my heart skip a beat.

Three years ago, I was on the team of a retreat and one of the candidates and I had a lot in common. - The same major, similar family life, etc. It seemed natural to me to befriend her, however, in effort to do so, little did I know I would be beginning a 'relationship' of hatred and competition. This lasted for a while .. but eventually, through campus events and activities, we learned that we were going to have to at least tolerate each other. Fast forwarding about a year .. the tolerating worked and we both were selected to partake in a 10 day service experience across the country. We knew that this trip was a test to our friendship - I guess we passed, since we left best friends. We knew the trip would either make or break our friendship - lucky for us, it only made it stronger.

To this day, we remain best friends - and then some. Just over two months ago, we had come back to school from a long break and were talking well into the early morning catching up with each others' lives.

At one point, she got up, walked across the room and told me she had something to tell me. It was then our feelings were vocalized and realized. I had begun to have feelings for my (now) girlfriend a few months prior, but never acted on anything because I was scared. I was afraid of being laughed at, of causing complications to a seemingly perfect friendship. I was afraid my best friend was going to walk out of my life.

Lucky for me, she took the bull by the horns, pushed aside her fears and followed her heart. I am extremely lucky to witness her courage and faith - in God, in herself, in me, and in us. I remember the moment she told me she had feelings for me. It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and a sigh of relief escaped my mouth. It was what I needed to hear.

Now, it's been almost 3 months and I have found happiness. I have been welcomed into one of the most loving communities I know. I am not judged, and I am not condemned for my feelings. -- Now the hard part is over, I have finally been able to be true to myself and true to her. -- The rest of the obstacles, we'll tackle when we get there. But the best part is, there is ALWAYS someone right beside me. My girlfriend is one of the most compassionate, caring, and loving people I know. She is supportive of everything I do - and I know we're in this together.

I now know what it's like to smile for days on end.
I now know what it's like to want to come home because there's someone waiting for you.
I now know what it's like to love someone completely, unconditionally.

I know this seems all too perfect to be real - but it is.
I also know I am young, she is my first girlfriend, and that much of my life is a secret.
I have faith, hope, and God on my side. I have been blessed with this opportunity to be loved for ME and to follow my heart.

It is completely and utterly amazing, breathtaking, and incredible.

I am truly blessed .. and oh so lucky.