Our story will always be my favorite story. Ironically, I knew who Kasey was before we ever started dating or talking, I just never talk to him myself. We didn’t go to the same high school, we didn’t have the same friend group, and we didn’t meet through mutual friends. We knew people, that knew us, but we didn’t know each other. Kasey approached me first, and within the first few weeks we started talking, I knew somehow someway, he was going to be in my life permanently. I also knew in that moment, that there wasn’t a day that went by, that I didn’t want to be talking to him. He was so captivating, so intriguing, and the absolute sweetest boy I have ever talked to. Granted, I was only 17.. but I knew whatever feature I had planned for myself, I wanted him in it. I was never worried about falling too fast or falling too hard, it was easy and beautiful with him. He made me laugh, and he always made me smile. There was never a moment during the day, that I didn't spend talking to him.

This boy, spent a whole entire year, talking to me every day, all day. Despite him working, or driving, or hanging out with his friends. I quickly became a priority to him. He was either texting me or we were talking on the phone. From helping me with my homework, to venting, giving me advice, to just talking to me about life, what I wanted to do and the plans I had for myself. It was never just a plain, cut and dry conversation with him. A whole year went by, without us ever hanging out. We tried, but our plans never really aligned with one another's, but I was still his first text every morning and his last text goodnight. I knew we weren't together, but he sure honored me like I was his, and in that moment of realization, I no longer felt the need to pursue anything or anyone else.

Going into the second year, of Kasey being apart of my life.. I ended up in a very unhealthy relationship. I think at this point, the connection that we had, the way relationship that we built with one another, soon became something we both, never wanted to compromise or ruin. I still talked to Kasey everyday, and every night before I went to sleep, he still held me on a high pedestal in his life. Always made time for me, still gave me every ounce of attention and conversation, just as before. This relationship that I was in, was very off/on. During the times that I was on with this person, Kasey and I kept constant conversation going. The moments I was off in this relationship, Kasey and I would hangout together. As much as Kasey tried to convince me to leave this boy, due to the way I was being treated, and the kind of "man" this boy was, I still stayed with him. Kasey didn't approve or like this man, rightfully so. But he never judge me for any of my choices with this boy, or even outside of this relationship. Kasey was always kind, supportive and understanding when it came to anything regarding me. Eventually.. somewhere in all this time, Kasey had expressed to me, that he has feelings for me. Something I always wanted to hear, seeing how I was the one girl, that he was different with.. but also something I never wanted to test, due to the friendship that we had. Kasey was my best friend. I never wanted to compromise that or ruin that. A little bit of time went on, and we slowly started talking less, and less. I don't blame him, expressing your feelings and them not being reciprocated the way you intended, hurts. It wasn't that I didn't have feelings for him or didn't see him that way, cause if I am being honest, I thought about him all the time. I never wanted to be with someone, so badly. But I didn't want to lose the friendship that we had, if things didn't work out. Not to mention, my dad was deployed during this time, my mom was struggling with it/life, and I was going through it, and he was the one person that was always there, despite his life and whatever he had going on. As time went on, and I stayed off/on with this person, there was a point that Kasey actually stepped out of my life, not completely, but enough that I wasn't a priority to him anymore. I had become just a causal/small talk friend to him, due to it being to hard to be "just friends" with me. As sad as I was, and with how angry it made me, I couldn't blame him. I cared about him enough, to want him to be happy, even if it wasn't with me, at all. A good amount of months went by, and my conversations with Kasey weren't really there anymore.. until, one day, when he reached out to me, asking me for advice regarding a girl he was talking too/seeing. When I tell you, I've never experienced heart break before.. that completely broke me, like the kind that hurts your core. Selfish, I know, because I was the one that didn't give him a chance when he wanted it. But regardless, I wanted him happy. So, I gave my advice, honestly, made a snarky comment about how "it won't work out with her, you'll be back soon to tell me I was right, and that you want to be with me instead." Little did I know.. 2 months later, I received that message, verbatim to what I said before.

Kasey coming back into my life, was that moment, where people tell you "timing is everything." cause ironically, I was at the point of leaving that unhealthy relationship that I was still in. Kasey was adamant, pushy, over the top, with wanting to talk to me, to see me, to be with me. He tried SO hard, to do everything he could to get me to leave my relationship, or just to even get me to hangout with him again. I knew I needed to.. but for some reason, I couldn't. Selfishly, I enjoyed him wanting me, putting me fist again, being all about me. The amount of times this boy told me he loved me, and thoroughly described every reason why, in full detail, and that it was always me.. just melted me to my core. And to be honest, I was still hurt that he asked me for advice, for another relationship he was in, knowing that I felt the same way he did, just didn't want to risk our friendship at that moment. Until one night. I took a risk, and deiced to see Kasey. When I tell you "one night can change your whole life" it really can. I saw Kasey for ONE night, after not seeing/speaking to him for 6 months.. and everything changed. He immediately felt like home. He came to pick me up, got in the car - awkward silence, while his friends are also in the car. Got to his house, met all his friends that he had over that night, cause they were having a party. And just haven't left his side, since. In a room full of people, he made me feel like I was the only one that mattered. He was smiling from cheek to cheek while introducing me to all his friends. He had that giddy-ness body language, I'll never forget, each friend that I met said "your the Meagan he's been talking about" and I just melted, into a straight puddle. Guys don't express their feelings with their guys friends, and for them to all know about me already, just made me feel a sense of love, I didn't know existed. Of course, Kasey and I were attached at the hip all night. He was affection in front of all his friends, respectful, catered to me and whatever I wanted or needed, showed me attention despite what he was doing. I didn't go home that night. If I left.. I thought that would be it for us, that these feelings or this night, wouldn't have met anything. So, I stayed. The next day, and the next day, and the next day. I didn't want to be anywhere, but with him. One night with him, changed my whole outlook on relationships and what I deserved. I ended that night, cuddled next to Kasey, after ending my on/off again relationship, with the previous guy. Probably sounds terrible, I know.. but those who knew who this guy was, would understand that he was lucky I didn't do to him, what he did to me. Kasey had to work the next morning, before he left, he looked at me and said "i want you to be here when I get home. Please don't leave" and then he kissed my forehead, and was off to work. When he left me, to go to work.. I cried, like my dog had just died. He contemplated calling in that day, but didn't want to leave his work more short handed then they already were. He promised he would be back soon, and would text me all day.. and he did just that. I never wanted to be away from him, whatever he was doing, or where ever he was, I wanted to be with him.

All it took, was one night, one chance, for me to see how much I loved this man. By the 3rd night, he asked me to move in with him. Seems sudden or too soon, but for us, it didn't feel like soon enough.

Now, almost 10 years later, we own a house together, we have a dog named Hunter, and 2 cats. We've gone some places, did somethings, and accomplished so much already. Nothing has felt limited for us, due to how hard this man worked, and does work for us. And now, we're planning our wedding together. We literally started form the bottom, worked our way up to where we're at now in our life, with our careers, our wants and our dreams. Now, at the end of every night, when he kisses me goodnight, I thank god that it's him, and that its always been him.