The day after we went on our first date, I left Alex.

No, it’s not what you think.

I had already committed to participating in a two-week course in Greece before I’d met him, but decided in the weeks leading up to my 25th birthday that it was time to take a(nother) chance on dating.

We met on a dating app and, knowing that I was going to leave anyway, I figured I had nothing to lose by going on a date the day before I left the country. I don’t know what I expected. I’m glad that the date went so well that we kept in touch even while I was away, and that Alex was still there, and still as interested in me as he was the day we met.

I went away again (this time for a month), and then Alex went to Greece (!) in the Fall, but we never lost sight of what was important in our lives – each other (and my cat, Nut, who decided she loved him more than me).

As they say, after those first few months, the rest is history.