When I say I love you ...

... I simply mean I love you.

I love you with no expectations that you be anyone other than who you are.  I love you with no demands that you love me back precisely the way I love you.

It does not mean I will accept continual bad behaviour, but realize I realize we are both human, we will have bad days, we will make bad choices, and we will sometimes mis-speak.  I promise to never do anything intentionally to hurt you.  If I hurt you by mistake with my words or actions, I hope you will tell me, and give me a chance to learn from my mistake, and to make it up to you.

It means you occur to me throughout the day; I want to share things with you, to hear your thoughts on things; and to know that I occur to you as well. No matter how far apart we are in geography, you are always with me.

It means I do not have to want the same things you want in order to understand and accept that they are important to you, and to support you in them.  It means you do not have to want the same things I want, but I hope for your support in them.

I simply love you.

I think your past has taught you that love means something much different.  That love came with strings, and that to love someone you needed to sublimate the real you, and become someone else.  I don't believe that is love.  I don't know exactly what it is, but it is not love.

I know I am important to you.  You do not communicate that in the same ways I do, but I am learning your language; I believe you when you say it.

I love you.