After that we only communicated for business. However, later on we found some common interests: traveling, feelings, language studies, foreign cultures…
A couple of months later, we got to the next level of our relationships – we started, as it was called back then, becoming friends. Marina had already turned 22 years old when we went traveling together, even though I had to meet her father and promise that everything would be OK with her, putting all the responsibility on myself. It was very surprising for me, but I did everything I could, and we went to Spain.
Our relationship was developing. We were getting used to each other, and half a year after our reacquaintance, I decided to make her a proposal. I chose the same pizzeria and again, our table was the only free one.
No romance! I remember, I started our conversation by proposing to Marina that we should end our current relationship. I meant that the stage of friendship and getting to know each other was coming to its end, and it was time to take the next step, a serious one – to become husband and wife.
However, my phrase came as a shock to her, of course. At that moment the only thing my future wife heard was “… we should end”. Her eyes filled up with tears and I understood: the joke was inappropriate.
We arranged our wedding to take place on October 20th. I still remember that sunny, warm day well…
Looking back at the story of our meeting and relationship – I understand that it’s absolutely common and maybe even trivial. No “love at first sight”, no insights like “That’s it, we’ve found each other…” – Nothing close to that! Moreover, I’m pretty sure that my future wife used to look cautiously at me. Maybe I frightened her by my assertiveness, my character, and audacity. There were no thoughts about a wedding!
We didn’t see each other as the chosen ones, didn’t feel anything special, didn’t make any plans about our possible future, or make up any reasons to meet each other… There was no overthinking in our story, if I can say that. Everything went with the flow, the relationship developed in a natural way. The only thing I understood from the very beginning was that I found all the features I valued and respected in Marina. That meant, there was no need to look for anybody else, as I had the right person next to me.