I once told an ex I loved him super early (we're talking weeks) in the relationship. 

Truthfully, I had no idea I felt that way until I heard the words coming out of my mouth. It just...kind of...happened. Like a cough or a sneeze. I think I may have been just  —if not more— surprised than he was.  

Believe me, I was no ingénue. From the ages of 18-28 I was a serial monogamist, either in (or be...

Full disclosure? We talked about moving on. We considered that perhaps we'd grown too far apart to find our way back to each other again, that maybe it was best to leave this thing now, to not let it get ugly.

It surprised me to see my mom's address in your handwriting, on those once-white envelopes, at the bottom of a Sketchers shoe box. I thought I had thrown out every word you'd written years ago.

Hello, my name is Ana, and I'm a recovering people pleaser. I used to do things I didn't really want to because I was worried what people would think of me.

It occurred to me then I felt connected to someone for the first time in years, maybe ever. I don’t know how you did it, but you found your way in.

I’m sure when he pictured this moment in his mind, it was all smooth and cool and badass. Unfortunately, in real life, it did not go as planned.

Against my better judgement, I went along with it and climbed into his tow truck.