I started dating my boyfriend 4 months ago but it got pretty serious pretty fast. I am traveling across the country to see my family for the holidays and have mentioned how much I would love for him to join us. He just celebrates with friends so I didn’t think it would be a huge deal for him to miss a year. He dodged the question the first time it came up but told me last week “I really want to, but if I go with you for Thanksgiving, Steve won’t have anyone to celebrate with”

Steve is his 70 year old coworker. My boyfriend has had him over for Thanksgiving for the last 7 years because he doesn’t have family to spend it with, and he cannot bear the thought of leaving him here to celebrate alone.

I have always admired my boyfriend’s commitment to the village he has made for himself but that conversation really put it into perspective for me. I have a feeling he won’t be coming to my family’s Thanksgiving for as long as Steve is around… and honestly I love and admire him so, so much for it. He is such an incredible person.