the acts of a boy.

Sometimes I wonder, "He's either a hologram or a robot, because no human being is that perfect." 

Richie is the single most thoughtful, kind-hearted human being I've ever met. He loves doing little things to surprise me for the sole purpose of seeing me smile. 

He brought me flowers. Twice a week. He'd spontaneously show up on some moped and tell me we were going for a ride. He wrote poems, sent sweet texts, and sat me on his lap in front of his family.

I told him my brother ripped a hole in my life-sized jumbo teddy bear.  The next day while I was at school, he called my mom and spent 3 hours talking with her and sewing it up.  And didn't even tell me after.

My family worships him, especially Jack.  Richie was his stand-in big brother. They played video games and kicked around a soccer ball. They made rude noises and played with the contraband green-lasers Richie bought for Jack.  Rich would go to Jack's games and not even tell me he went.

We went golfing with our dads. 
And don't even get me started on my mom.  
They write 3 page letters to each other.

We sat by the fire and talked for hours.  When I would fall asleep, he never woke me up. He'd lay there, brushing my hair from my face, leaning down to kiss my forehead. 

one of my favorite memorie is his singing to me next to the fire.

Digging a hole
And the walls are caving in,
Behind me,
Airs getting thin,
But I'm trying,
I'm breathing in,
Come find me,

It hasn't felt like this before,
It hasn't felt like home for you,

And I know it's easy to say,
But it's harder to feel this way,
I miss you more than I should,
Than I thought I could,
Can't get my mind off of you,

I know you're scared,
That I'll soon be over it,
That's part of it all,
Part of the beauty,
Of falling in love with you,
Is the fear that you won't fall,

It hasn't felt like this before,
It hasn't felt like home for you,

And I know it's easy to say,
But it's harder to feel this way,
I miss you more than I should,
Than I thought I could,
Can't get my mind off of you,

I'm so proud of you, Elder Connolly!

five months down. nineteen to go.

all my love.