Mush Sesh.

Just under two years ago, the guy sitting across from me in my graduate school classroom made me laugh with a witty comment. After that, I found myself paying closer attention to him, laughing at his awesome humor and slowly realizing how smart he was.

A couple weeks later, I caught myself staring at him and thought, "Man, he's cute."

A few months later, I did absolutely everything in my power to spend more time with him. I practically begged my friends to hang out after class so I had an excuse to see him, to learn more about him. I never thought I'd shake my homesickness after moving to Indianapolis, but visits to Lebanon were fewer and farther between as we started to spend weekends together.

A year ago, when that handsome guy in class started to like me back, I worried that he wouldn't stick around - that he'd leave me for a better job, a better girl. I couldn't believe someone like him would go for someone like me and I was impressed with my ability to reel in such a catch, even if only for a short while. I ultimately decided that the universe was temporarily rewarding me for some good deed I had done in the past.

Seven months ago, as my parents helped me pack and move my things into his apartment, I felt happier than I have ever felt in my life. I was sad to leave my old apartment, but I was so excited to start a life together in the first place we could call 'ours.'

Two months ago, my state of unshakable happiness was abruptly destroyed when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. At the risk of sounding cliche, my entire world came to a halt as I struggled to deal with my new normal. I knew he loved me during my good times, but worried that he wouldn't be able to handle my bad.

Sunday night, when I came home from what felt like my millionth trip home in the last couple months, I walked in to find an immaculately clean apartment, purple tulips on the bed, and him, smiling that same gorgeous smile that won me over in class.

Yesterday, as I laid on the couch, alternately crying because of the situation with my mom and the miserable stomach bug I caught over the weekend, he came home early from work with red Gatorade. He laid next to me on the couch, wiped my tears away, stroked my cheek, and told me I look cute in shorts.

Today, I know that he's it for me. In complete honesty, I would have told you he was 'the one' a year ago. But today, I know that we're it for each other. No matter what happens, no matter how hard life gets, he will be there, making me laugh, teaching me something, or simply holding my hand...and that thought brings me more comfort than he could ever know.