I still remember the first time I saw her. We were at work — just another regular day, until she walked by and caught my eye. There was something about her. The way she smiled, the way she moved, like she carried this quiet confidence and kindness all at once. At first, it was just a glance here and there. Then it turned into those little looks that lasted a second longer than they should’ve.

I didn’t know if she noticed me too — but I hoped.

One day, I stopped waiting. I got the nerve to ask her out.

And she said yes.

That one yes changed everything.

From the beginning, it just felt easy. Natural. Like we had skipped the awkward part and jumped straight into something real.

She had a daughter, bright and full of spark. I had a daughter too, bold and full of heart.

Now, we’ve got this beautiful, blended family. Two amazing daughters, two dogs that act like they run the house.

And the best part? We still work together. Every day, I get to see her — my partner, my best friend, my love — just a few desks away. And yeah, we still give each other those same looks. The ones that started it all. The ones that say, "I see you."

Sometimes it hits me how far we’ve come. From nervous glances across the office to quiet nights in our shared home, surrounded by the family we’ve created.

And every time I look at her — whether it’s across the kitchen, the living room, or our office — I still get that same feeling I did the first time.

Lucky. Grateful. Home.