mother, you are

for ten years, you have been family, the mother and sister and brother and father i never had. you are the woman i call my sister, as good to me as a mother. you are the woman who will leave work and drive six hours to rescue me from a painful breakup. you are the woman who wanted me to walk down the aisle with you. you are the woman who has made me feel a sense of family i wasn't sure existed. you are the woman who sends me care packages, uplifting notes. you are the woman who will sit with me and listen, no judgement, as i pour out my deepest, darkest secrets in this world. you are the woman with whom i have laughed, cried, and felt more love, understanding, nurturing, and complete acceptance from in this life than ever before. you are the woman who saved me. you are the woman who helped me find myself, who was there to talk about the beginning and ending of relationships, friendships. you are the woman who is so bright and full of love and life. you are the woman who will pick me up and help me dust myself off after heartaches and misguided life adventures. you are the woman who is always one phone call away. the one who let me witness profound, beautiful, unedited birth. the birth of your son. but also the birth of me. the birth of me as a woman who does not need a biological mother. the birth of me as a woman who can stand on her own two feet, knowing she will always always always have you in case she falls. and sometimes she falls hard.

so thank you, my beautiful mother-sister-friend. i will forever love you, my first and forever family.