"i've got your back"

photo taken by corey rourke

i'll never forget the day december 11, 2005.  this was the day that i first met a wonderful and amazing human being...matthew nehe.  it was so completely unexpected and i definitely was not looking to get into a relationship anytime soon for reasons i will share in just a moment, but needless to say gravity took over and pushed us together. 

we met on campus at the university union in the computer area.  matthew sat next to me as i worked on a paper for a final that i needed to turn in that day...needless to say i was stressed!  we struck up a conversation with one another and ultimately exchanged names and found each other on facebook.  never did i know that facebook would be the reason for our connection over the next month.

after finals i left for minneapolis to spend 3 weeks with my dad...during this time matthew and i really got to know each other.  we exchanged several emails, talked via instant messenger and spent the evenings on the phone for hours.  after a week of this i realized that this really could be "something" and at this time i knew i had to tell him.  something that i didn't really want to have to explain to anyone, but i owed it to him to be honest.

i had just gotten out of a horrible relationship with a student from canada...he was completely out of control in many situations and made it very difficult for me to leave him.  i finally was able to make my escape, and ultimately he ended up getting kicked out of school...luckily he went back to canada and a restraining order was filed.  unfortunately this did not stop the obsessive phone calls...nearly 100 a day on my cell phone as well as my parents and friends. 

this was still happening while matthew and i continued to get to know each other...i was terrified to tell him thinking that he would be scared off...i wouldn't have blamed him.  after explaining myself and this less than attractive situation i expected the worst....but instead he said something i will never forget..."i've got your back."  in that moment i knew he was truly something special and every worry i ever had disappeared.

after spending another week getting to know each other through phone conversations i finally came back home and we had our official first date...the rest is history ♥

matthew and i just had our 5 year anniversary of meeting each other (i know i know a weird anniversary, but to me it is something really special)!  we simply celebrated with a hug and a kiss.  he has my back and i have his...when you have this, nothing else really matters. 

xoxo - lindsay