On a crispy, fall September night in 2018, my life was forever changed…for the better.

A cop and a nurse, a tale as old as time.

A chaotic series of fast-paced events at work led to me spending most of that night seated in the common area of the Cardinal Glennon Emergency Room. Thankfully, no one was injured, and this was more of a precautionary and procedural visit.

I was sitting near the triage rooms, stuffing my mouth with BBQ chicken pizza and brownies when she walked by. Wearing a pink Cardinal Glennon shirt and blue scrub pants, she effortlessly glided between rooms addressing the medical needs of the children on the floor. This woman was in her element. There is no doubt in my mind that I stopped chewing my food and some probably fell out of my mouth. It should be no surprise that I became clumsy in the presence of a beautiful woman.

I thought I said “Man, she’s beautiful” under my breath… I was wrong. A coworker of hers overheard my comment. The coworker snuck up behind me and said “Yes she is and she’s single. Do you want her number?” I choked on the pizza, very caught off-guard by the sheer forwardness displayed by the coworker. I tried to play it off, but again, I’m clumsy. I told the coworker maybe, but I truly didn’t think I stood a chance.

Throughout my six or seven hours of an overnight stay in the ER, we spoke briefly, mostly about the series of events that led to my being at the hospital. Her name tag read Nicole. I don’t think I ever formally introduced myself that night, but I knew her name: Nicole the Nurse. She handled working in the ER with poise, and you could tell her patients were truly grateful to have her at their bedside. It was amazing to witness

I continued munching on the pizza in hopes of building enough confidence to attempt the monumental undertaking of holding a conversation with Nicole the Nurse and maybe even ask for her phone number.

The pizza disappeared as the sun started to rise which meant my time at the ER was coming to an end. I don’t have any real explanation for what came over me, but I stood up from my chair and followed after Nicole the Nurse down the hall. She noticed I was behind her, and her facial expression said it all: “Why is that cop following me?”

I went for it. Stumbling through my words and in the farthest from smooth way, I asked for her number. To my absolute surprise, she gave it to me. The word “giddy” comes to mind but when I wrote her number down, I had butterflies.

A couple days passed, and I decided not to text but call her instead. My efforts went straight into the abyss known as the voicemail inbox. Believe it or not, I left a voicemail as a last-ditch effort. Not five minutes later, SHE CALLED ME BACK. She explained that my phone number is similar to a telemarketer’s number and that is why she didn’t answer, in addition to being surprised I called instead of texted.

Nicole the Nurse became Nikki the girlfriend then fiancé and now soon to be wife.

I am grateful every single day for that night. Every. Single. Day.

I love you Nicole the Nurse.