Promises

Because I love you, I promise not to own you

I promise not to monopolize your time or your energy or your love

I promise to give you freedom

Because I love you, I promise to protect you

I promise to protect you from those who would use you, drain you, destroy you

I promise to protect you from yourself when you think you’re anything less than absolutely wonderful

Because I love you, I promise to cherish you

I promise to love everything about you

I promise to cherish your quirks and your flaws even if you never learn to love them yourself

Because I love you, I promise to help you

I promise to help you when no one else will

I promise to help you when you can’t help yourself

Because I love you, I promise to communicate with you

I promise not to keep secrets

I promise to be open

I promise to tell you how I feel

Because I love you, I promise to respect you

I promise to respect your boundaries, to respect your privacy

I promise to respect your own life apart from me

Because I love you, I promise to trust you

I promise to trust you when you tell me, “I love you too.”