It all started at Red Deer College, back when we were both in our early twenties—two young souls wandering through the busy hallways, not quite aware that our paths were meant to cross. We shared classes, played recreational hockey together, and laughed with the same friends. On the ice, we were teammates; off the ice, we were just friends. But there was always something unspoken between us—a quiet spark, a lingering glance across the dressing room—that neither of us dared to acknowledge.

For two years, we were friends, connected by the same world but not yet ready to leap into something deeper.

Tanner headed off to the University of Alberta, and I moved to Vermilion, each of us stepping into the next chapter of our lives, our paths momentarily diverging.

But as life has a way of doing, our journeys weren’t finished. A couple of years later, I moved to Calgary to start a new job, and the city became the setting for the next chapter in our story. Tanner and I were still connected by social media, but it wasn’t until a couple of months after I’d settled into my new life that he reached out. A simple message on Facebook: "What part of the city are you in? What are you doing for work? We should grab a drink and catch up! "

It had been a long time, but somehow, it felt like no time had passed at all. We talked for hours, bonding over our shared love of hockey, reminiscing about the old days, and learning how much we had changed and grown in the time apart. The conversation was easy, the laughter was effortless, and the pizza—well, it was perfect. We closed down the restaurant that night, and by the end of our meal, Tanner had already planned our next date.

It was one of those moments where everything just clicked. The timing felt right, the connection undeniable. And from that night forward, we never looked back. We spent the next few months rediscovering each other, this time not as friends, but as something more—something deep and real.

Now, every memory we’ve created together, every laugh shared, every moment of support, feels like it was meant to be. Looking back, we both realize that we’d always been on the same path; it just took us a little while to catch up.

And so here we are, two people who once shared only the same friendship circle, now sharing a life. What started as a flirtatious interest has turned into a love that feels like home. No matter where we go, or where life takes us next, I know this: It was always you.