Search Results: make him realize what he has

(Your name),

These past few weeks have been "tearable" (inside joke) but also a huge wake-up call. I’ve done a lot of thinking, and you were right — I needed to get my life together.

I know my choices, especially with drinking, have hurt us. I’m proud to say that today marks one full month sober. I haven’t touched alcohol since that awful night and I never want to again. This time apart has made me realize you mean so much more to me than any bad habit. To make sure I stay on track, I started taking Naltrexone and I begin counseling on November 3rd. This isn’t another empty promise, it's a real change.

In the past month, I’ve passed my real estate exam, picked up extra shifts to pay off my debt, and even started going to the gym again (though I miss my gym partner). I’m doing these things for myself and because I want to be the kind of woman you once believed I could be.

You’ll always be someone I imagined building a life with. No matter what happens, please know how much I love you and how grateful I am that you have been a huge part of pushing me to become my best self.

Whatever happens next, thank you — truly — for everything.

With love,
Emma

For context, my brother has been dating his girlfriend, P, for two years. I absolutely adore P—she’s like the sister I never had. Long before they began dating, however, I met her brother, T. He and I are in the same grade, only about six months apart in age.

I first met T in seventh grade, when he was still a bit of a “geeky” guy. By the middle of eighth grade, I had my first boyfriend and met P for the first time around Thanksgiving. Back in seventh grade, I had a small crush on T, but it was nothing I ever considered acting on.

During freshman year, T and I had science together and started talking occasionally. I began to realize I still liked him. As our siblings grew closer, so did we. Whenever we passed each other in the hallways, we would exchange smiles—he has the cutest dimples when he smiles.

By the end of freshman year, I wanted to ask for his number, but I was too nervous. He was talking to someone at the time, and I didn’t want to overstep boundaries; if I were in that girl’s position, I wouldn’t want him giving out his number to other girls.

I hadn’t seen him for about three months until today, when we had back-to-school night. He was there with a friend, and he smiled at me like no time had passed. Later, he came over to my house because he, my brother, and P were going to the lake. When I saw him, my heart skipped several beats. I tried to keep my cool, distracting myself by making cookies and watching a show.

I don’t know if he’s dating or talking to anyone. If he’s not, I’m wondering if I should ask for his number and get to know him better. Before pursuing anything, I would make sure P was comfortable with it, because the last thing I’d want is to betray her trust or cross a boundary in our friendship.