Back when we were dating, I told my wife I loved her before
she was ready to say it back.
I was totally okay with this and here's the reason why:
I have always been the "safe guy" who waited for my
previous girlfriends to fall for me before I even considered
falling for them. I was very guarded in my emotions...too
guarded. Previous girlfriends have always expressed more
than I could reciprocate. Subsequently, I was never
emotionally challenged or vulnerable. Love came too easy. I
never fought for it. In fact, this had been a significant
contributor for my failure in progressing in previous
relationships - a failure to fully commit my emotions to my
partner. In my 30's, I began to fear that I was too far set in
my ways.
When I met my wife, I knew I had fallen for this woman. I
struggled internally about when to express this love. The old
part of me wanted to wait as I usually did for some
guarantee that she would reciprocate. But something about
her made me impatient, crazy and excited. To quote a movie
"When you meet the person you want to spend the rest of
your life with, you want the rest of your life to start right
now!" I came to the realization that I needed to break out of
my safe zone. It was more important that I say those three
words than to hear them said back. I needed to confirm to
myself that I was wiling to change for this woman, that I was
willing to fight for this woman.
I knew with certainty that she wasn't ready to reciprocate
when i told her I loved her. She deeply thanked me and
instantly I was in uncharted territory. But even in the face
of her uncertainty, I was even more certain that I had found
my soulmate - someone that I was willing to change for,
someone that I was ready to be 100% vulnerable
for...because that's what love is, isn't it? The ability to
intertwine your life with another - and there's nothing more
unsafe about it yet nothing more comforting when realized.
P.S. she has since said she loves me...and everyday
afterwards.

-_-

FLAWLES:
-_-

............. say something......

@OP
although you dont need to hear it from her, but there has to be concrete signs that she cares a great deal about you..... if she can "show" love, its even better.