When I went to Mexico (Nov '13 - March '14), I did it under the impression that I would have a great time. That I would be happy and me missing my friends and family would be obvious, but I'd get through that. Well, I didn't. I was extremely depressed on most occasions; I realized that being without my first (my friends & actual family) and second families (the fandom) was something I couldn't handle. I'd find myself getting agitated and pissed off when I should have been at my happiest - or so I thought. In February, I was caught off guard by being told I was coming home. I was struggling with leaving my then boyfriend but coming home to see what was waiting for me. Since May, my life has changed so much (let me try not to be cheesy here). I realized my worth and I realized what my boyfriend was doing to me. He was extremely controlling and manipulative, he didn't understand my friends or why I felt so at home with the fandom. He never wanted me to go out with my friends, he never wanted me to go and enjoy myself at cons/meets. He didn't trust me at all. He made me feel bad for a lot of things I did; he'd stalk where I was and try to get information via friends of mine, that he didn't know. Finally, after realizing that I needed to live my own life, that I needed to get out of that situation for my own well being, I broke up with him. It hurt to break up with him, but it freed me and there was nothing holding me back. I was happy again.

Shortly after, I made the decision to try dating my amazing Target. We had been texting a lot and we even roomed together at Califur (the decision to date came a few days after. We had spent pretty much the whole con together as friends). I don't want to say that I've never been happier because we as young people say that a lot about certain people... So, I'll say this: my life has drastically changed within the last few months, alone. He does keep me extremely happy - he's the most laid back, outgoing & fun person I've been with. He lives life the way it's supposed to be lived. And he's teaching me every day that there's something new and exciting that needs to be done. I've heard other people see us together and later tell me, 'You guys just look like you're supposed to be together.' He fits to me like a puzzle piece that you just found after trying a few others. I'd like to point out that while my happiness has increased because of him, I've realized that I can make myself happy through friends, conversations and just doing my own thing. Which is something that not all young people quite grasp. This is an exciting realization for me.