I have shared this story numerous times in various ways, but I believe it’s best to write it down, just in case the temptation to modify it arises in the future. It’s a story too precious to be altered, and I want the future me to share the same enchanting tale with our child. Yes, my love, it’s our story.
It all began in a humble house, some referred to as an office, where I opened a door and there she was, turning her chair. In that moment, something extraordinary passed between us. Call it chemistry, if you will. Not too late, I found out it’s too late. She was married, and her boundaries were crystal clear. I respected that, and together we agreed that being friends would be more than enough.
Weeks turned into months, and we quickly became best friends. Same with the entire marketing team. We were more than colleagues. we became a family. One evening, after work, myself, her and another colleague went out and after a few drinks we started discussing the possibility of starting a new life in a new country. She firmly expressed her inability to see me leave Romania. I had everything here: friends, family, a great job, a cozy apartment, a car, and more. In response, I immediately challenged her, saying, “Wanna bet?” The bet was this: if I were to leave the country within the next year, she would treat me to a coffee at the infinity pool of Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. That included flights, accommodation, and the coffee itself. It was no small bet. If I lost, I would pay the same bet. So, regardless of the outcome, we had to make it to Singapore. She agreed, and our other colleague served as our witness.
A few months later, she left the company. Not long after, an opportunity arose, and I moved to London. When I reminded her of our bet, she playfully reminded me of her marital status. I understood and continued my life in the UK. We gave each other life updayes every few months. Then, at one point, I found myself booking a trip to Asia, with Singapore on the itinerary. Initially, I reserved a room at Marina Bay Sands but canceled last minute, as who knows, maybe one day we can experience that together. Instead, I visited the observation deck, took a photo, and told her I was waiting for her. Her response remained unchanged.
A few years passed, and out of the blue, she called me, asking me about my next trip to Romania. Confused, I asked why. That’s when she shared her biggest life update: she got a divorced. I didn’t know how to react. She cut it short and asked me when we can meet. I couldn’t wait for my scheduled trip and promptly invited her to the UK. Not long after our call, she arrived for a week, and I gave her a tour of The Cotswolds, the place I called home. She loved it, and we whispered to ourselves that maybe we could give a long-distance relationship a shot.
For a few blissful months, everything went splendidly. Then, March 2020 arrived, and the world was gripped by the pandemic. Flying became impossible. Determined, I hopped into my car and embarked on a journey to Romania. It took me 60 hours, encountering adventures at border checks and catching brief power naps at superchargers. Finally, after two weeks of self-isolation, I reached her. We spent one month in Romania before deciding to return to the UK.
The following year became the best year of my life. Despite the world colapsing around us, I had her by my side. However, our joy multiplied when she became pregnant: a miracle considering the doctors had given her less than a 1% chance of conceiving. Our child was born in Oxford, and our temporary stay in the UK transformed into a permanent one.
After a year of devoted parenthood, we decided to reward ourselves. We planned a trip to Dubai, Singapore, and Bali. When we finally reached Singapore, she fulfilled her promise and bought me that coffee.
Her name is Florence. She’s your lovely mum, Alex.
Add a Comment