The things I am about to say are told in lightness. I need you to understand this in advance because I will be talking about the future, which has traditionally been a delicate subject between you and me—although it doesn’t have to be.

I want to tell you about my dreams because you are in them. I understand that they may never come to fruition. I understand that you don’t know what you want. I understand that you don’t wish for me to expect you to make my dreams come true. I understand all those things, but choose to exercise my right to dream about a future with you in it and the things we might do together.

I dream of a future where we fly home from vacations together. I want you to see me in every single bathing suit I ever buy for the rest of my life. I want my things to sit on shelves alongside your things. Of helping you hang Christmas lights every year. Of dance classes. Diner coffee. Hundreds of billions of kisses. Experiencing loss while holding hands. Laughing at ourselves. Being honest together. I dream of growing ever-older with you.

No promises. I understand. But I can dream these sweet and beautiful dreams. Please don’t be scared. They don’t hurt me. They can’t hurt me. All these dreams just make me feel happy. That’s all.