Sitting on the couch with my partner playing computer games 3 meters away from me, I sometimes think back about how we met and how incredibly unlikely our meeting really was. I would love to take you along on this unlikely love story of ours.
A Girl and a Boy
In the winter of 2018 I was single and living my life when I was unfortunate enough to have a really bad climbing accident that left me with an ankle broken in 6 bits, all tendons torn off and a calf muscle completely torn off. I became house-bound and bored pretty quickly. One of my good friends from the climbing group said he had a uni friend from the UK coming to visit him in the Netherlands. He asked if I wanted to join them in the bar next to my house. Jumping on the opportunity to meet someone I hobbled my way on crutches the 10 meters between my door and the door of the pub. As soon as I met Matt, he made me laugh!
Not wanting the good fun to end I asked what they were up to the next day. When they said they didn't have any plans I asked if they would be interested in watching some olympics at my place and eating magic mushrooms. They instantly said yes.
Visit the Vortex
It might seem a bit odd to invite someone you don't know for a magic mushroom trip while you are crippled, but I am a firm believer in going with the flow.
Well we had a blast! I was sitting next to Matt the whole time and we just laughed and laughed. My first instinct was to cuddle him, but thought that would be a bit weird with our friend being there as well haha. The next day Matt went for an explore in Utrecht and seeing that I could hardly walk that was our time together.... or maybe not?
The First Date
I found Matt on facebook and added him and we got chatting and Matt asked me out on a date. In the UK. Camping. For 5 days. I didn't even have to think and booked!
So I took the train to Yorkshire and then for the first time I thought: I have only seen this guy once, if this turns out awkward it will be next level awkward. Like camping for 5 days together awkward...
But it never was. As soon as I saw him when he picked me up from the station I knew I made the right decision. I just felt at ease with him. We went to the lakes, camped, walked (I had just gotten off the crutches) and after 5 days I took the train back and thought... Shiiiit I think I really like this guy...
What Happened After
We did long distance for 2 years. First UK-Netherlands where we spent as much time together as we could. Always with active vacations, climbing, caving, hiking, mountains.
After a wile Matt got a job in Oman so we did Oman-Netherlands, it was harder because there was a time difference and it was far, but we made it work.
Matt moved back from Oman to the UK and we made plans for me to move to the UK, I got my English teaching licence so I could work, quit my job and then... Corona. The minute I realized this was getting serious and we might be seperated by closed borders. I got on the last ferry before the borders closed, packed up the most important things and left to the UK. After a week, Matt lost his job in the lockdown. After 12 weeks of bliss living together for the first time even though there was a pandemic, we decided to move to the Netherlands together as I could pick up my old job.
So here we are, we've been living in the Netherlands for a year now. Matt is finding his way with the language and a new job. I am so happy, we did all the hard things and we made it through and I could not be happier for it. I guess the main thing is: trust your gut, follow your heart and go completely for it if you think it's right. It's been hard but I cannot imagine being with anyone else.
Here we are now, Matt, me and Ed, the friend that brought us together!