From Long Distance To The Rest Of Our Lives

Why?

This is our story, meant for you—something you can share or keep between us and our family, maybe even our friends. It's a reflection of how we got to where we are, how we grew together, and the places we have visited! I hope that when you look back on all of it in the years to come, I'll be there smiling with you.

I wanted you to have something to turn to, something you can revisit and know that you are loved. Our relationship is built on love.

You have done so much for me, and I hope that by keeping this webpage, I can give back even a little of what you have given to me.

6v6 Olha Saves

What's Our Story?

Our Story starts with a hello... well, a 'Hi". You told me I reminded you of Ross from Friends, that I was boring! But you also said that it soon changed, and I became interesting. I think it had more to do with my accent than anything else, an accent and epic skill! (YES, I was showing off to you; I fell for your accent, I didn't know I had, along with my cool, dry wit too!)

Over the weeks and months that followed feelings grew, powerful feelings. Feelings I couldn't do anything about it and even if I could-- what could I do you were over a thousand miles away! Yes, we met playing games, shooting people in the DMZ, all we had was our voices, how we communicated the chemistry, and it was enough for me to fall in Love! Not just once but every time we played.

I remember the early days when we first started playing I just tried my hardest not to say silly things and present the best of myself and my best gameplay. The feelings that grew were like nothing I had ever felt before for anyone, keeping it all in was very hard. One time it got too much for me, and I blocked you! But you had other ideas; while I blocked you on WhatsApp and PSN, I forgot to block your number on my phone! You reached out to me, and said that you missed me that it wasn't the same without me. I think that was my first hint that you were interested in me, too.

Then we kept on gaming, I would start singing to you and I sent you music in the guise of "western music education" sneeking in loves song where ever I could. Still trying my hardest not to give the game away!

The First Song I Sent You That You Saved

I sent you this song perhaps a day before everything changed between us!

Dino Crush

One night, after an evening of gaming just the two of us, you said something that truly changed my life! We had a fantastic day together. I sent you a lot of songs, we laughed, and did all the things I hoped for—just enjoying each other's company and making you smile. I love your laugh. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you sent me a meme—the best meme I've ever seen. It was a drawing of a dinosaur with the caption, "My level of flirting: I have a dinosaur-sized crush on you!" My heart raced, and for the next four or five hours, I tried to figure out the right response. I wrote like twelve different texts before finally deciding to just go for it. I said, "Let me put my serious hat on for a moment. If you’re serious, I would like to see where this goes!" (Right is a recreation of the meme.)

Take On Me

A song I sent a bit befopre Dino Crush that you hearted and saved.

Post Dino

After the Dino Crush, I remember my heart fluttering every time you sent me a text. We would stay up all night learning everything we could about each other. There were so many questions, and every answer was given freely. Nothing was off-limits. I remember never feeling safer sharing the most personal and intimate details of my life with you. It felt like magic, and the truth was so exciting. It wasn't long before we made plans to meet and talked about the places we wanted to go.

There was one big problem: I didn't have a passport. I never told you because I kept trying to get it in time, but hurdle after hurdle kept popping up. From my name being misspelled on my birth certificate to the post office losing paperwork and my brother arguing for my mom’s documents, it felt like it would never happen. When I finally told you, I was filled with fear and trepidation. You made it seem like no problem, and you completely understood. I was in shock, knowing without a doubt that you were the one; I just didn't know if I was good enough for you. For weeks and months, I struggled with the notion that I wasn't enough for you, even before I started grappling with my own self-worth.

I had given up on the idea of finding someone I could envision a future with, someone I would want to spend my life with. Yet here I was, with a woman who was so smart and beautiful, completely understanding and accepting of who I was. I know you had done so much more for me than you realized, and I promised myself that I would try to be someone who deserves you. Yet somehow, I still didn’t feel that way, and wrestling with that idea was harder than I thought.

Some Of My Texts You Saved

I Love How you have saved them!

Then The Irish Guy

Now comes the part I wish I could forget—the part where I got cold feet. There's no excuse for how I acted. You were dealing with so much—the war, the devotions—and I panicked, thinking I wasn't enough. I got frustrated when I felt you were pulling away a little. I sent you a long text ranting about things that annoyed me at the time, even though they didn't really bother me! I broke up with you and made an overly dramatic fool of myself. I had no right to put you through that, and for days we didn’t talk—it felt like a week. During that time, I listened to one song and one song only. Then there was that night when you texted me, "Are you asleep?" I had spent that night with my mother, binge-watching *Only Murders in the Building*. I couldn’t sleep; my mind was racing, and you rescued me once again! I knew I couldn't ignore your message, and I realized that if I did, I could never hurt you like that again.

From There...

We became closer and more open as we talked and laid everything out on the table regarding what we both needed. We meant it, and today we still keep each other's needs in mind always. After that, we made final plans. In the following months, I got my passport, and we booked tickets. We first met in Krakow...

Krakow Frist Trip

The night we met, I tremblingly. ur arms. I was so nervous; I had never been abroad before, let alone to meet the love of my life! What I was doing felt crazy, but then we kissed awkwardly, and in that kiss, I found my home

Our First Real Date

Our first in-person date was breakfast the next morning. We had stayed up pretty much all night,ittle sleep, we went out for something to eat after discovering so much about ea and with very lch other! I remember feeling uncertain about whether I should hold your hand as we walked the short distance to the restaurant. You made the decision for me and took my hand!

In Krakow

That first week in Krakow was filled with many firsts: our first walk, our firstfirst dinner, and our first coffee together. We explored the historic center, and I discovered t breakfast, our hat I had a terrible sense of direction! The biggest takeaway was how comfortable we felt together so quickly. Everything felt just right, and I knew I was at home with you!

Our First Flight Together

I will always remember our day of traveling together. The closeness and care we showed for each other, the debates over who should carry the bags, and how our flight was delayed, forcing us to move from one terminal to another. I’ll never forget how someone stole all the pins off the back of my bag!

Santorini

Our long stay in Santorini was one of the most epic times of my life. No matter how hot it was, we still held hands! I learned to swim in the sea, and we walked a lot, spendingon the beach and enjoying delicious food. However, the highlights for me were when we got home and just spent ti plenty of time me together—watching Fallout or cuddled up on the couch outside with a drink.

The Day Of The Treck

The day we trekked to Fira, you started out so happy because you thought you had finally booked bikes, something you wanted so much. Unfortunately, it fell through, and I felt terrible! In an attempt to cheer you up, I took a million photos, and I finally passed your course!

We took a bus, and it was so hot as we walked the full length of Fira in the most densely packed area. I noticed how red and hot you were, and to be fair, I was on my last legs too. I made you sit for a bit in a small kebab shop run by a rather grumpy woman.