I’m going to make you a promise.
Right now.
I’m going to promise you that I will never let you down,
that I will always be polite at Thanksgiving dinner with your parents,
that I will never lie, that I will always kiss you goodbye.
That I will hug you like I never want to let you go,
that I will never hurt you,
that I will consult you before getting a haircut,
that I will stay by your side when you’re misty-eyed.

But that’s not enough, is it? That’s not enough for anyone.
You wouldn’t be happy with that.
And that’s okay. Because I can’t promise that you will always love me,
and I can’t promise that we will be happy together forever.
But I can promise you this: I will always love you.
I will love you until I close my eyes for the very last time,
and welcome that blinding light,
or deafening dark,
whichever makes it easier for you to let me go.
And even after you’ve moved on,
I will still love you.
And I’m not one to break promises.