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The topics of love and life hold a great deal of emotional value for me. While both of them have been good to me in the past, one still is, both have given me a hard time in the past year.

I went out with my last girlfriend, Rebecca, for almost 2 years, and last April I broke up with her for several reasons. The biggest though, was the way she treated not only me, but everyone around me. You could say I learned a very important lesson from that relationship, never trust someone based on the way you see them, especially when you're in love. The reason I say this is because love tends to blur issues, especially if they deal with someone or something close to you.

My last relationship started out ok, she loved me, I loved her, and we generally got along. Like every other couple, we had our occasional rough spots, but we got through them. We had our good times too. I guess you could say we were pretty average. Then, things started getting worse...

In the beginning, she didn't have a problem with anything I did, saying "boys will be boys," but after about a year, things fell downhill. At first, she didn't really do anything outright to let me know she was angry, but right around the year and a half mark, she started to really show her dark side. It started with the occasional argument, but we both ended up blowing it off, as general personal issues.

Even though I was as kind to her as I could possibly be without giving up my dignity, she still wanted more. Things eventually go to the point that she was trying to govern everything I did, from when I went somewhere, to who was allowed in my house at certain times. I eventually got to the point that I simply could not stand it anymore, from the yelling, to the "crying;" because, I wouldn't do every little thing she wanted me to. Finally, I decided enough was enough, and ended the relationship.

After that, I had some rough times, but that's for another entry...

Not too long after I broke up with her, though, I met a girl through a website I frequent (www.gaiaionline.com). We talked on MSN for a few weeks, getting to know each other, and then, I finally scraped enough money together to go and meet her in person. Admittedly, I had my apprehensions about dating someone that I had met online, but I'm glad I ignored them. Michelle, my new girlfriend, and the one I am madly in love with, was just the person I need. I remember when I first met her like it was yesterday.

My friend David and his girlfriend, Rachel, had gone with me to meet her. As we finally pulled up into her driveway, I started shaking like a leaf, more nervous than I had ever been before. I walked along the path leading up to her front door, rang the doorbell, and waited, as I heard someone moving inside. Her mom answered the door with a friendly, "hello," and my jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw Michelle standing behind her, blushing bright red as I stepped in the house. Immediately, I walked up to her and gave her a hug, holding her tight as she started giggling from happiness.

Michelle and I have been together for two months, and we see each other nearly every weekend and we still talk on the phone or online every night. I can truly say, though, I know what I need to do to make this relationship work. I have learned many lessons, and I will carry them to the very end...