Ladies (and gentlemen, (and those in the spaces in between)),

Whoever the person is in your life, it’s important that you know what it means when they finally break the ice and tell you they love you.

And no, I’m not talking about some kid trying to score on prom night. I’m talking about the real deal: kissing under fireworks on the Fourth of July, snowball fights in Winter, crushing leaves on a crisp walk in the Fall, and long talks on porch swings during a late Spring breeze.

I’m talking about, “I love doing laundry with you on a Sunday afternoon. Those things that normally make me roll my eyes so hard that they get stuck in the back of my head? Maybe not going a million miles an hour all the time isn’t so bad. Maybe we can just pack some sandwiches and go see that day hike waterfall. Maybe we don’t need to pack bear mace.”

If they mean those three words, it didn’t just fly out of their mouth the moment their neurons started firing. It means there were thoughts during those early walks. Then there were even more after the walks ended.

“That was nice. I like them.”

Then an easy lunch in the sun, maybe a dinner or two.

“Wow. I really like them.”

Then days will go by where you can’t help but look at a book, hear a song, or watch a movie without thinking of them. Would they like this one? What character would they be? What would their voice sound like singing this?

There might even be a dream or two before it can’t help but be admitted:

“I love them.”

They’ll walk around with a smile in their heart, but they won’t be sure what to do. Maybe it’s too early. Maybe we should just see how things keep going. Maybe you just don’t feel the same. But the memories will stack up, and they’ll know it would be dishonest to not say anything, and they hope that you might be just as captivated by that beautiful form of madness.

“I just had to tell you I love you.”

Happy screams. Laughter. The Eagle has landed. We’re home.

The best part is the next time they get to see you, and the happy knowledge that there will be more next times.

So bear in mind the next time you hear I love you, that the real ones don’t take those words as a cheap way of upgrading on “I like you.” No one should ever wish for that, no matter how good the words feel in their own right.