r/ReadyToLove

Besides basic things such as physical touch, buying flowers every month and writing a love letter, what are some of the small things I can do to show my love for her.

Back in grade 9 during half-yearly exams, I had a friend — let’s call him Colt. Through him, I met two of his close female friends: Mia and Zoe. Colt jokingly told Zoe to date me, which made things awkward, but by the end of grade 9, I ended up in a situationship with her. Soon I found out Zoe was also dating other guys. I told her straight that I wasn’t interested anymore. Loyalty always mattered to me — even back then when I didn’t really believe in love.

You see, at that time I thought love was fake. I believed people who couldn’t move on were just sympathy-seekers. I had crushes before, but none lasted more than a month. So when Zoe ended, I didn’t think much of it.

But then, after final exams, classes got reshuffled for grade 10. That’s when Mia — Zoe’s best friend — came into my class. I didn’t know then that meeting her would change everything.

At first, it felt like just another crush. Around March, I noticed myself drawn to her. By April, we were building a good friendship. In May, we started sitting together on the same bench. Then June came. I started missing her during summer break, badly. Every day without seeing her felt heavier than the last. That’s when I realized it wasn’t just a crush. But still, I tried ignoring it, thinking I’d get over it. I didn’t.

When school reopened, by mid-July, I was one of her close friends. But then I made a mistake: I told Colt about my feelings. He told everyone. She started avoiding me. From August till the next May, that year was pure hell.

Then, results came. She couldn’t get admission in 11th at the same school because she focused more on her badminton — she’s an Under-17 badminton silver medalist. She took admission elsewhere. I saw my chance and followed her to that school. She was genuinely happy to see me again — I was the only one she knew there. Slowly, we became really close again.

By this time, most people she trusted had betrayed her, spreading false rumors just for attention. But I stayed. I became one of the few constants in her life.

Every day, after dispersal, we’d ride our scooties. We’d stop for a drink or food, ride side by side, and I’d go all the way to her house before heading to mine. It became our routine.

She had her share of heartbreaks:

A guy who asked for a kiss on the first date — she blocked him.

A new best friend who turned into a stalker after rejection — she blocked him.

A senior who pretended he liked her, then ghosted her because he already had a girlfriend.

A badminton player’s brother who already had a girlfriend — she walked away.

A guy from her coaching she liked, but he died in a car accident right before proposing. That broke her completely.

I stayed through it all. Slowly, she healed again.

Now, she has feelings for another guy, while another — the one moving out of the city — just revealed he has blood cancer. He’s been emotionally manipulating her, and she’s caught in guilt. She told the one she liked that she doesn’t want to be anyone’s girlfriend, then blocked him.

Some days back, I tried to stop talking to her. She became really sad. I couldn’t bear it. I rushed back. Because no matter how much it hurts me, I can’t watch her sad.

And that’s the conflict I live with every day:

If I stay close, I get hurt.

If I distance myself, I still get hurt — but worse, I see her sad.

So I’ve made a choice. I won’t stop loving her — that’s impossible. But I’ll stop trying to make her mine. I’ll just be there when she needs me.

Yes, I wasted all my teenage years on someone who never chose me. Yes, it hurts to know I’ll never have the “teenage love” people talk about. But if I had to waste them, I’m glad it was on her.

She shaped who I am today. She taught me to love, to care, to be the kind of person people say would make a great boyfriend. Dozens of people have told me that. And yet, she never chose me. Maybe I’m not as good-looking as the others. Maybe I just wasn’t enough. I don’t know.

But I do know this: she’ll always be the only one I ever loved.

I’m not writing this for advice or pity. I just wanted to let it out. That I loved once, truly, and even if it never became mine — I’ll carry it forever.

My fiancé and I have known each other for roughly 2 years already. I’m looking for some ideas of nice little things I can do for her throughout the week to remind her I’m thinking of her. One thing I was thinking about, was leaving a little note beside her when I get up for work, before she woke up.
Here are a few more ideas I’ve come up with:
• Sending her a sweet ‘thinking of you’ text with a photo of something that reminded me of her.
• Preparing her favorite coffee or tea in the morning before she wakes up.
• Leaving a small chocolate or her favorite snack in her bag for work.
• Planning a surprise 10-minute video call during her lunch break.
TL;DR: Looking for small, thoughtful gestures to show my fiancée I’m thinking of her daily. Ideas include morning notes, surprise texts, and preparing her coffee.
Please help with some more ideas? 😊