Hey Merc,

You sweet, precious goofball. You've been a blessing in my life that I just can't ever be grateful enough for. I can honestly say you're the best thing that's happened to me in the past few years and I thank God every day for having you in my life. Besides Jerry, you're literally the closest friend I've ever had and you even know me in ways Jerry never has. I love you so much, and not just because of who you are but also because you make me wanna be a better man.

It's now been almost 2 years since we first met, and it would genuinely be a surprise if I were to tell that version of me just how close we were going to get. I know things have gotten...well, complicated 😅.... between us, and sometimes I wonder if things would have been better if they never did, but I'm also kinda grateful that they did. Because of how I trusted you and became vulnerable, you showed me what it truly means to be completely open with someone and still be chosen. You showed me how it was to trust a person like that and to accept them as they are.

I'm happier because there was a time I had doubts about my abilities to love, to treat people the way I thought I would treat them and stuff, but u changed all that. You made me confident and made me feel more like a man because your femininity allowed me to be more masculine. And I love you so much for it. I've told you this before, but I'll say it again. Whenever I'm with you, I never have to pretend to be someone I'm not or put on a mask. I can just be me unapologetically and you still choose me as I am. That is very important to me because all my life, I've had to pretend and make myself less to be accepted.

You became the best person I have in my life, and you still are in a lot of ways. I love how sweet and kind you are. I love how you love and care about kids to the point where you're going to dedicate your entire life to helping them. And again, I love you so much for that too. The way you're open-minded about things and the way you want to try and understand where someone is coming from is what I want everyone to have.

Your overthinking, however excessive you might think it gets, is also proof of how much you care about things and about people. I believe that if you were someone who didn't care about others, you wouldn't have been an overthinker. You are so gentle and soft-spoken too, which I admire so much. You're very smart and beyond beautiful. I love how you love God and want to be a good daughter and despite our flaws, you will become that.

One thing I've learned about myself throughout the years is how much I'm capable of loving, and you're literally the only person so far that I've said, “she deserves my love.” All this is just to tell you how amazing and rare you really are. I want you to know that you are loved, valued, beautiful, important, capable, and someone that deserves all the good things this world has to offer.

I want you to have yet another joyful and peaceful year, and I hope your 20s become years filled with good memories, good friends, opportunities, and growth. I want you to be surrounded with the people that you love and that love you back, and to have fruitful relationships in all areas of your life. As a princess, you deserve everything a princess deserves and more.

I love you so, so much, and I wish you a beautiful, happy birthday.