my sunday school teacher told me once
she said, be careful who you fall in love with
because when you fall in love
you give a part of yourself to the person
a part of your heart you can't get back
and when you finally meet the one
you'd have less to give him.

a friend and i talked today of hurts and loves
of pasts, of presents, of seemingly too-lalaland future.

but in a rare burst of being open with names on my blog
today, here goes some shoutouts to the boys
who have a bit of my heart.

adriel who showed me what it was like to be loved, and treasured--who was my caccoon in the storm, who stood up for me no matter if i was in the wrong, and who appreciated and noticed the small things i did, and always called when he got home from school, dependable as the sun.

gabriel who to be honest i wasn't in love with completely, but nonetheless, showed me how to laugh at the situations that come my way, who coaxed smiles out of tears, who mastered making me sleep happy, bubbling and grinning.

ryan who showed me how to love someone with all that i had, who perfected the concept of dates, who was my greatest vice, yet my baddest attraction, who showed me love was about sacrifice, on both our parts, and who walked from his place to mine at 2 in the morning, to leave the next morning at 6 without ever complaining.

keefe who shows me love was not a balance sheet of things we do for the other, but a joy of giving, who makes me too addicted to naps wrapped in each other, who makes me dance in my step when we go out, as if the rest of the world faded away. who buys me little surprises, knowing it makes me smile, who holds my hand through my lowest, and remnds me my tears are too precious to waste.

i think i have been a lucky girl.