I'm the kind of person who always needs proof before making a decision or jumping into something unknown. That's why for me, I don't have a long list of guys who I have dated or experiences that are worthy of being shared. But how I met the love of my life is a story that I am very proud to share. Because finding you made me believe that things do happen for a reason.
Before I found you, I was in a very dark place. I remember feeling like I was walking on a cliff edge every single day and all it would take is another final push to send me falling. I was so low. I felt unloveable, worthless and just ugly. Looking back, I can't believe I let anybody ever make me feel that way.
But this isn't about them. This is all about you. My knight in shining armor. The good guy who came and swept me off my feet. But this isn't how our story started.
I was 16 years old. It was back when Facebook was taking the world by storm and we were all so intrigued by the notion of reaching out to others. I remember looking through one of my best friend's list and coming across your profile. You guys went to high school together and I was so curious about you. You were a filmmaker and you also seemed to be much older than me (come to find out you were my age). I wasn't really thinking about much, other than how I wanted to pick your brain about film and asked where you went to school. So I sent you a friend request.
I remember that you had a girlfriend so I just pushed the thought of you away and went on with my life. Meeting people in my neck of the woods and going down my own path.
Flash forward four years later.
That was when he pushed me to my breaking point. When I really felt my self dangling off of that cliff edge. And then it happened. You noticed me.
I didn't even recognize you at first when you reached out to me. I had no idea who you were, but after looking through some photos it all came rushing back to me and all of a sudden I felt a surge of butterflies bouncing in the pit of my stomach. It was you, it was that filmmaker who had caught the attention of my 16 year old self.
Here you were telling me that I deserved to be respected, that I seemed smart and bright and that you would love the chance to meet me. I just couldn't believe the chances. I mean a simple friend request was about to lead to more than I would have ever thought.
So I went to meet you. And I remember that day so clearly as if it was yesterday. I was so emotionally scarred, I was carrying so much baggage. But when I walked in and met eyes with you, I swear it was as if I was coming up for fresh air.
I kept thinking "This is too good to be true." "Things like this just don't happen." But here we are two years later and I still feel the same way about you as I did when we first met each other's gaze.
It might not be the kind of serendipitous encounter like when a girl walks into a coffee shop and spills their cup on their future husband. But I love our story. I love our story because it makes me believe in all sorts of things.
You are my person. You are my other half and you compliment me in more ways than I ever thought possible. It may seem as silly as a 16 year old friending a stranger because Hey, that's what it was. But somebody wanted us to meet. Somebody was trying to make us happen.
So I'm thankful for the pain that we both went through from people who were never supposed to make it to the end of our story. Because we found each other and it's the greatest gift life has ever given me.