I laid eyes on you and nothing changed.

Love at first sight is rare,

more accurate is a slow storm coming in from the sea, from clear to clouds to a torrential rain.

Feelings emerge a little every day, until somehow you can't help but care.

Love isn't a choice, it's not something you can help.

Love is when someone comes into your life and suddenly they matter more than you'd ever wanted them to.

They tease you, bicker back and forth, none of it is malicious, none is anything but positively felt.

It's somewhat like you're siblings, the teasing is fun and shows love more than different words could do.

You show each other new parts of the world, new things they'd yet to discover.

You support each other, showing them how much they're adored.

You do dumb things, as young teens in love tend to, occasionally acting like nothing can touch you, as if you're undercover.

Doing things parents wouldn't approve of, following through on plans that maybe should have been aborted.

Going to all the beautiful places-- rivers, caves, lakes, and canyons.

Cuddling in a hammock, dancing in the rain, or watching fireworks from up high.

Talking about everything, important or fleeting, exploring every tangent.

Doing all of those things you do in your youth that you'll remember till you die.

But the parts you'll specifically remember aren't always the important ones,

just as important are those moments spent on the couch watching a movie,

or hanging out in the backyard laughing till you can feel the ache in your lungs.

Or even the flirty banter as you as you wait for your jamba juice smoothies.

Love is the big moments, but even more so the small ones.

It is fitting in perfectly with someone you'd never expected to.

It's looking forward to seeing them every time, even when you've been together for months.

It's learning they're favorite things, and what their dreams are, what they want to do.

Most importantly, it's caring and sacrifice.

Agreeing to let them go when that's what's best for them.

Facing the fact that things can't continue to be romanticized.

That life keeps going and not even your perfect little bubble could be forever exempt.