In 2009, a mutual friend thought it would be amusing to introduce us simply because his first name happened to be my last name. At the time, I was in sixth form and he was at university, two young people living different lives, yet unknowingly beginning a friendship that would become the foundation of everything we are today.

For years, we were each other’s confidants, exchanging laughs, encouragement, and the kind of trust that only true friendship can build. It wasn’t until 2019 that we finally met face to face.

What was meant to be a simple hangout turned into something far more memorable. She “crashed” the gathering with her cousins, and in the middle of all the chatter and laughter, we found ourselves sitting across from one another. Neither of us realised it then, but in that ordinary moment, we were staring at the very person God had chosen for us. Life has a way of writing chapters we don’t immediately understand.

Fast forward to last year, and everything began to shift.

Her point of view:

Out of the blue, he sent me a message but this time, it felt different. There was a depth in his words, a certain courage. Minutes later, my phone rang, and with a boldness that both annoyed and intrigued me, he made his intentions known without even asking if I was in a relationship! (Yes, I told him off for that.)

His point of view:

After months of her constantly being on my heart and in my prayers, I felt a deep conviction that it was time to be honest. I typed a message, but even as I sent it, I knew words on a screen weren’t enough. So, I picked up the phone. With confidence, I called not just to speak, but to finally let her know the truth I had carried for years.

At first, she reminded me that we are “just friends.” But something had undeniably changed. Our conversations began to grow deeper, we spoke about faith, about family, about the kind of future we longed for.

As the months went by, our hearts grew closer. Around her birthday, when friends asked her to describe what she desired in a husband, the answer was already before her. A few days later, after prayer, she realised that our daily conversations felt less like casual talks and more like God’s gentle confirmation that she was speaking to her prayers.

During the Hallelujah Challenge, that confirmation became even clearer. There was an unshakable peace, a settled spirit that told her.

And then, in May, surrounded by love, hope, I asked the woman who had once been my friend to be my forever.

Now, here we are celebrating not just the years of friendship behind us, but the love story that God has been writing all along. A story that started with a name, blossomed through friendship, and found its fulfilment in love.

This is our love story. And it’s only just beginning.