Every once in a while someone comes into your life and changes you permanently. I've had a lot of those, it seems. Here's a couple of ways you've forever changed me:

I'm way more myself, way more unmasked. I'm completely unmasked around you, but I noticed at lunch today with Chloe that I'm starting to unmask around other people. You were the first person I ever fully unmasked around, though. The first person that felt safe.

On that same note, you have helped me realize certain characteristics about myself in general and related to autism. You've helped me realize certain things were because of autism specifically.

You've done a ton of healing, I can go in public without a hat now because of you. That means you've been a strong enough positive in my life to undo otherwise permanent negatives in my life.

On the drive home from bowling, this evening, I saw the sunset. Somewhere in Tampa, over the bay. I even said aloud "Wow, that's beautiful." Immediately I thought of you, because that's been my name for you for a long time now.

You've become permanently associated with the word beautiful, and I think that's pretty cool.

I love you, beautiful.