Mathew messaged me first on Facebook Dating, and I’ll admit—I almost didn’t respond. I had just been ghosted and was feeling pretty discouraged. But something about his message stood out, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. With everything shut down due to COVID, we spent about a month talking every day, getting to know each other in a way that felt easy and genuine.

When we finally met in person that May, we went bowling for our first date—and from that night on, something just clicked. We were inseparable. After our second date, we started seeing each other almost every night, even if it was just for a few quiet moments. I was working at an urgent care nearby, so I’d swing by after work, and we’d unwind together—just watching TV, talking, and falling asleep in each other’s arms before I headed home.

Eventually, I met his kids, Peyton and Carson, and my heart grew even more. By late July or early August, he moved into a new apartment—and after that, I just never really went home. My things found a place there, just like I did with him. What started as a simple message turned into something real, something lasting. And the rest is our love story. ♡