This story will be narrated from my perspective (Dakota), since I initially pursued the relationship.

For anyone who does not know, Mykaela and I dated in high school. We did not date for very long and it ended because I "ghosted" her. The term "ghosted" refers to when a person does not reach out or make an effort to explain why the relationship is ending. I am saying this because it should be easier to understand what came next.

Six years later, Mykaela posted a picture of herself on Instagram and I thought what a perfect opportunity for me to slide in her DM's (internet slang for expressing romantic interest) and maybe get another shot at this girl. When I did this, I had no recollection of how things ended between us back in high school… which explains why I had to try so hard to get a date with her. After three weeks of messaging back and forth on Instagram (sometimes being blown off), I finally got a date with her. It was during Covid, so the date involved sitting on my back patio. I spent the four-ish hours we were hanging out nervously sweeping the patio while we talked the night away. Eventually, she left with me not knowing whether or not I would see her again. Fortunately, my irresistible charisma won me a second date and then a few more after that!

We continued to hang out for the next three months, when I realized I wanted to be more than just friends. I very boldly and very manly-ly asked her to be my girlfriend. Three years later, I did the same thing but with a ring in my hand and an unnecessarily deep lunge. I was even more nervous asking her to marry me than I was on our first date! I guess that's how you know she's the one, huh?

In case you're curious, she continues to remind me that I ghosted her all those years ago.