4 Months 19 Days

No one is perfect. I have my faults and I have things I must work on. At the beginning of my relationship, I was not completely sure of my true feelings for Lovely Boy. Of course, I knew I really liked him. BUT, there was another boy. A boy whose name will be, for the sake of privacy, Africa. At that time, 4 Months and 18 Days ago, Africa and I were colleagues at work. We talked like best friends and laughed like best friends, but the extent of our relationship was strictly at work. There was flirting and eventually we started texting. Texting was always friendly, but I looked forward to every conversation and every day that we worked together. I met his family and loved them. We had an instant connection. Throughout these four months, Africa and I have become very close. Our work relationship has turned into being best friends. We talk about everything and hang out.

So if we're best friends, you ask, then what is the big deal??

The point of this, seemingly pointless story, is this my fellow blogging friends.

I thought I was in love with him. It makes perfect sense. We do have perfect chemistry and a really strong connection. I know we would make a compatible couple. He is just one of those attractive, charismatic, good guys that girls, like me, are drawn to. Up until recently, I have been fighting with my feelings. Every day is like a constant, Africa or Lovely Boy...Africa or Lovely Boy...

Last night, I figured it out.

Yesterday, I spent the entire day with Africa. I dressed up as a Disney Princess for his 3-year-old neice's birthday party then we went to an open-mic fundraiser for Haiti. He played piano and I sang. It was a very eventful, fun day. The fundraiser was at his school and all of his friends, peers, and teachers were present. There was not one person who didn't think that I was Africa's date or girlfriend. Of which, I was neither. I explained many times that we aren't dating, but still, people were persistent that we would eventually date. His friends and teachers took a liking to me.

One teacher even went so far as to try hooking us up through the following conversation:

"So, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes, I do."

"Oh, I see. You really like him?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Well, that's too bad, you and Africa would be perfect."

I laughed it off, but yet I knew she was right. Africa has it all. He has the looks, the personality, the drive, the money...EVERYTHING.

But the thing is, last night, I no longer had the butterflys in my stomach when we got close. I no longer felt nervous when we were alone. I no longer was thinking about being with him. Instead, I was thinking how much I wanted Lovely Boy to be with us. All night I was wishing Lovely Boy could have joined in on the fun Africa and I were having. I finally realize that this is because I am in love with Lovely Boy. What Africa and I might have, is not a NOW thing. It was an infatuation. What I have with Lovely Boy, that's the real deal.

And I'm going to keep it that way.
Now, thanks to Africa's mother, I have a picture of my best friend and my boyfriend kept safely in my wallet, close to my heart.

Love,
Miss Elizabeth