I know I love you because I want to get you soup when you're sick. Not only do I want to get it for you, I want to make it for you so you can eat something made with love instead of with crush insects and preservatives.

I know I love you because I want to slap anyone who hurts you, even if it's your boss. I want to hold you when you're having a nightmare and kiss the spot that hurts when you bump into something.

I know I love you because I want you to be healthy even when you're not sick and that's why I keep bugging you to change your crappy eating ways even though I know you're over hearing about it.

I know I love you because I worry about the stuff only people who love you worry about, like the amount of quality sleep you get a night, and how much you drink when you're sad, and whether you're getting enough vitamins in your body.

I know I love you because I freak out when you're obviously disintegrating yet too stubborn and too "I'm fine" to actually go to the doctor, even though I do that sort of thing myself.

I know I love you because I think you're beautiful when you're not. And I don't mean good-looking, I mean beautiful. Beautiful like there's something pervasive and magnetic about you that comes through even when you look positively bad. I think you're beautiful hungover and puking your guts out.

I know I love you because i can't abandon you, not even when you're being a dick. Not even when you're being ten dicks. Normally I don't put up with that sort of behaviour but I love you and I understand that you're stressed or frustrated so I'll let it slide for a little bit. But I also love you enough to call you out on it when it gets to be too much.

I know I love you because only people who love you care to say something about your bad behaviour instead of saying nothing and just calling you an asshole behind your back.

I know I love you because I want to listen, I really do. I don't have anywhere to be that can't wait for a while and I'm not checking my phone, in fact I turned it off and buried it in the cushions the moment you said you needed me. I'm here for you.

I know I love you because I'm truly concerned with how your life turns out. It's not just that I want you "to be happy" or attain that vague self-helpy "inner peace" bullshit we're all supposed to aspire toward. I want you to express yourself and be fulfilled and feel like you're living life for a good reason, not just passing the time. I want everything to work out for you the way it should and I want to be there for it, occasionally with some JD.

I know I love you because I just do.