as I mentioned on that selfie, I spent about 4 hours picking away at the skin on my finger with a  needle and tweezers in order to remove a tiny metal splinter – and in the final moments (which I didn’t know were final at the time) Jake started writing me a hidden note in our shared document (like we do) and he wrote the last word as I triumphantly wrenched the splinter from my finger, so I was able to sit there and cry and be comforted by his piercingly kind words in the aftermath of that stupidly all-encompassing pain and frustration.

he is my rock solid canyon wall. he loves me so much better than I had ever imagined someone could love me.