“To say there is a thing called destiny may be absurd for some people, but listen to my story first. Watch how simple choices, and  certain pushes would change my life forever. This is how we met.

It happened on a Sunday in December, now this is important as I never worked on Sundays, let alone Sunday morning. I was going through the motions, getting through another shift inside the liquor store of a then named Safeway. My manager, Nadege, who had just been on her break, came down with a bubbly smile. She then began to speak of a beautiful girl on her lunch break inside the tea room. She also began to pressure me to go upstairs and speak to her. Immediately my heart began to pound. I had never randomly spoken to a girl with the intent of getting to know them. But in the end I caved in, I made my journey upstairs to the tea room.

My mind was racing “What if she is repulsed by me, thinks I’m a creep or has a boyfriend?”
But the one thing that overpowered it all was “Go for it!”

I turned the corner to discover the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail that hung through her bakery cap. She sat there eating a pink doughnut.

I was floored.

She was way out of my league, but still “Go for it!” shone through.

I had seen her before but only briefly at a bus stop once, and her and her family had walked through my register, but I had never ever spoke to her. But I recognised her from a photo of one of my friend’s party. So with my heart racing, I spoke these very words.

‘Hey… random question, do you know Robert Anderson?’ She looked up from her phone and a sweet Filipino accent spoke out. My mind was spinning, she was actually talked to me. I proceeded to pour myself a water and grabbed a newspaper, intent on keeping the illusion that I was on break. We spoke for a few minutes.

Her smile made me smile, which made me determined to not make this our last encounter.

I got up from my newspaper (which was upside down the whole time) and went back to work. This was the small beginning that propelled Melisande and myself together. A coincidence? Fate? Whatever you call it, all I know is that I never want it to stop.

Happy three and a half years, Mel. I love you more and more each and every single day.
Your boy forever, Marlo”