We were kids, sitting at the end of the dock on an August night. We stared up at sky and watched a meteor shower with our knobby knees touching. A shooting star raced through the sky and he turned to me and asked me what I wanted more than anything in the world. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to spend every minute of every day with him for the rest of my life. But being a shy 12-year-old, I lied and said I wanted a boat. It’s been 10 years and now I know he wished the same thing on that star.

—Emily

Postscript: We are almost 21 now, and still together.

10

It was in junior year pre-calculus class. He was sick for two weeks, and I agreed to tutor him before the test. Turns out he’s a math genius…He aced the test and winked at me showing his score. He’s been my tutor ever since.

—Elizabeth

Postscript: We have been dating for almost 4 years now.

4

Our first kiss was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The way he kissed me was completely different from any kiss I had ever had before.   I kept catching my mind thinking “‘wow.” I was surprised  how shockingly amazing one kiss could be. I knew that if I were never to kiss another man again, I would not be disappointed.

—Kathryn

Postscript: Since that kiss we’ve been together 9 months.

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Morning coffee runs were our thing. We had different friends and were dating other people, but a few mornings a week he’d pick me up and we’d drink coffee and talk about books. I fell in love with his mind. One morning I got a text from my boyfriend and my heart sank when I saw it wasn’t from the friend; that’s when I knew I’d fallen for the rest of him too.

—Hayley

Postscript: We still are not together…and I am not with the other guy either…

2

When we were 13 he dropped me off at my house after a bike riding date.  We stood in my garage and he kissed me for the first time.  I said to him, “my parents tell me not to throw these words around in less you really mean them, but I think I am falling in love with you.”  He hopped onto his bike and pedaled as fast as he could home.

—Gayle

Postscript: We continued dating from that point on. We have been married 23 years.

7

I was working at a big advertising firm.  She came in as a  sales exec from the phone company, interviewing random employees about the new phone system.  ”What kind of features would you want on your desk set?” she asked.  I was feeling a bit self-important, as ad guys do and replied,  ”I want speed dial, special rings, earpiece volume control, speaker phone—.”   “You can stop right there,” she said.  “We’ve got just the set for you. It’s a couple of tin cans and a wire.”  Brilliant.

—Dan

Postscript: Since our first date we haven’t been apart for a day in 25 years.

4

Sneaking out of a dilapidated frat house at 3 in the morning after a drunken, sweaty make-out session rarely has love written all over it. But as I fumbled to kiss him good-night, awkwardly waved, and headed out into the chilly April night, without even an exchange of numbers or last names, I knew this guy wasn’t going anywhere.  We were young, we are young, but I knew from that moment—that simple, meaningless lingering wave before I turned and ran home—that he would change my life forever.

—Megan

Postscript: Almost a year later, we’re very much still together and still busy making out–but in far classier places, don’t worry.  I still can’t shake the deep, knowing feeling that this guy isn’t going anywhere.

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