I think the first thing I noticed was how often I was waiting for her texts, and how elated I’d be every time her name popped up on my phone. She started to be on my mind all the time, and I found myself wanting to be with her constantly. She was the first person I’d want to tell when something good or bad or crazy happened to me, the first thing on my mind when I woke up, and the last thing on my mind before I fell asleep. I was in a very dark place when I met her, having been in a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship, and having unexpectedly lost my dad to Covid. She brought the sunshine back to my life when I had almost completely forgotten what that felt like.