Story
It was 9:30 Monday morning, November 21st 2016, when I got a calendar ping reminding me that the new storyboard revisionist was starting. I suddenly panicked, realizing that the cube he was supposed to move into that morning was still full of leftover paint and rags from the freelancer who'd been occupying it the week before. My PA and I ran to the desk and furiously cleaned it, hoping he wouldn't show up before we made it presentable. The last touch was to print out a label with his name and post it on the cube wall. Heading back to my desk, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself for making the space look so professional so quickly.
It was about 20 minutes later when I got an IM from my boss telling me that the new guy had complained about his last name being misspelled on the cube placard. Annoyed and grumbling, I reprinted a new name tag and went to replace the first one. When I got to the cube, its new inhabitant looked up and flashed the most gorgeous smile at me and I instantly melted. My irritation was immediately replaced with blushes and giggles, and ever since then I have never stopped looking at Tim with googly eyes and a hopeless crush.
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Emily, coming to change out my placard, rounded the corner. I turned, preparing to introduce myself. However, it was at that moment that my thoughts decided to abandon ship. There Emily was, smiling at me, waiting for a handshake. After staring stupidly at her for a little bit too long, I smiled, and shook her hand. I felt like I had just been struck by lightning.
People sometimes say, "One day you'll meet the person of your dreams while you're not looking." And, that when you meet the right one, you will just know. I was viscerally aware at that moment that I'd just met that person; the right person. Emily, as it turns out, is my other half. We've since spent almost every moment together, rollerskating, hot-air ballooning, waking up early to work out, running races, working extremely late nights, and then sleeping in, talking about the future, cooking, planning, traveling, taking pictures, making memories, and surprising one another. But that first moment is a feeling that I will never forget, and has been my touchstone throughout our relationship, and will continue to be into this next stage of our lives.