Your Stories

444 Central Ave, Rochester, NY 14605, USA on the 14th of June, 2014, at 11:00pm

By Kelly O

Back in May of 2014 I had finally gotten away from an abusive ex, I had dealt with such pain for 3 years and I was finally free - it was all so new and scary, being free and alone with my children. All I did was work and come home.

During this time I received a friend request on Facebook, my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw who it was: my high school crush Derek, who was also my ex from like 10 years ago. We had a rough breakup but, then again, we were so young.

The next morning I woke up and the friend request was gone; I'm not going to lie, I was a bit sad, but I ignored it and went about my day. The next day the friend request popped up again and this time I did not hesitate and accepted it. He messaged me and we talked for a little bit, talking about life and how we both have been.
A week had gone by and I hadn't heard from him. I was going through the emotions of a break up and trying to feel normal after getting out of such a horrible relationship.

I was posting song lyrics on Facebook that matched how I was feeling and Derek messaged me, guessing the songs' name - he asked me what was wrong, so we began talking. Then the next day we were talking, and again, until we were texting; calling; and sending cute pictures to each other - it felt like high school all over again.
So later that weekend my girlfriend called me and wanted to go to a club called Tilt, I figured 'why not?' it had been so long since I had been out. I texted Derek and told him my plans to go out with my friend, he sounded excited for me and told me to have fun.

The night of June 14th 2014 I was getting ready to to go out - I was so nervous I hadn't been out in a couple years - my previous relationship with my abusive ex never allowed it. I was so scared, I was having an anxiety attack. I avoided calling my friend til the last minute. She was supposed to just come pick me up but it was now 10:30 pm and no sign of her. So I finally called her to find out what was going on. She thought I wasn't coming cause I didn't call, so she had left her apartment and was already on her way to the club. I got off the phone and sat down next to my children in the living room. My oldest said "what are you doing? Aren't you leaving?" I replied "no, I missed my ride, I didn't really have enough gas to get there anyway".
A part of me was relieved because the thought of being around so many people was scary. So I called Derek and told him what happened, the line went silent..."what's wrong? Are you still there?" I asked. He answered, "yes! - But you have to come to Tilt tonight!", "Why?" I said, he responded "cause I'm here!". I was so shocked and confused. "What do you mean?" I asked, "I was trying to surprise you and meet u here!".
He offered to give me gas money so I could go, so I drove out to the city got to the club and as I walked through the doors and up the stairs: there he was, he was leaning up against the wall waiting for me. He looked up and smiled at me and all I could do was smile back; 'love at first sight' is an understatement for what I felt in that moment and I knew he felt it too.
I was walking on air all night, it had been 10 years since we had seen each other and even though he couldn't see it, my heart was beating a mile a minute, I was so captured by him. We danced all night, had a few drinks - it was so much fun, I hadn't felt like that in years! I don't remember who kissed who first but I remember wishing it would never end.

The club closed at 2am but we continued our night, drove to his mom's house to drop off his cousin who lived there, and ended up sitting out in his car till 5:30 in the morning, just talking - it was the best night ever. I left there feeling happy but figured we probably wouldn't see each other again, we had both just gotten out of a relationship and I wasn't rushing anything. We still continued to text and talk the days following.

4 days later, after the night at 444 central ave, we were talking on the phone and he said "I love you! I never stopped loving you, I thought about you throughout the 10 years and I don't want to lose you again" and from there on out we have been inseparable.

Our 5 year anniversary is coming up and I swear I love him like the first night, every night. I still can't believe he found me and reached out to me; I still can't believe he chose me and we are here 5 years later. That night meant everything to us and I want him to relive it as much as possible and never forget that feeling we had.
This gift meant so much to him it made him cry, it made me cry, I'm actually crying now just writing this! There is so much I can not fit on here, but we went through so much to be together and that one night, that one amazing beautiful chance of a life time night, brought me to a man I have been in love with since I was 15.

This is our story and I am so thankful for the opportunity to tell it and to relive it. ❤