“Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. No, don't blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being "in love", which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.” -  Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli's Mandolin

I don't believe in love at first sight.

There was never that "OMG you're my soulmate" moment that I felt between us.

But what I do believe in is that love is something that develops, slowly, over time. 

True love is getting to know more and more about that person, right down to their worst qualities, yet still wanting to be with them and actually loving them even more. Being more and more comfortable sharing everything with them because you know they'll listen and understand. Wanting even to let them know about your worst qualities, the things that tick you off, the dreams that you have in this life. And then hearing these magical words in response: "I understand", "We'll work it out", "I'm proud of you". 

This, apart from the love of a parent for their child, is the strongest kind of love there is, because it does not start strong and then diminish, like the burst of a firework, which although is beautiful, lasts only a fraction of a second. True love grows, like a tree. It may start off as a small fragile thing, but through the years it grows, from each watering of affection and care that it feeds off of. At times, it may be challenged by storms and winds of the strongest kind, but because its roots are deep and its trunk flexible, it will not be uprooted. 

Many people search their entire lifetimes to experience love like this. Having found mine, I don't intend to let it go. No matter the obstacles that we'll face. And we will face many. I intend to weather through each and every one of them. For you are worth all of the thunderstorms in the world :)