Two and a half years ago, in the midst of a pandemic - I received a work opportunity to temporarily relocate to Nashville. Initially contracted for three months, the ever-changing circumstances caused the initial timeline to stretch from three months to six, and unexpectedly to ten. I had lived in NYC my entire life, I was scared.. but decided to try.

Upon my arrival in Nashville, my married coworkers and friends, deeply rooted in Southern traditions with families of their own, found it perplexing that I, in my mid-30s, remained single and without children. Driven by their well-intentioned concern, they took it upon themselves to set me up on blind dates. Unfortunately, the first two encounters ended poorly and i felt disheartened. I had been single for 4 years and again, i lost faith in the prospect of dating altogether.

The third one had charm

However, my closest coworker refused to give up on me. She persistently urged me to give love another chance, despite my refusais and intent to return home. Undeterred, she devised one final attempt to change my mind. Three months before my scheduled departure, she invited me to a family dinner, withholding a crucial detail: the presence of a particular person.

I went to hang out with her toddlers, whom I adored. Having been heartbroken before, I was ready to embrace the idea of freezing my eggs or adopting and resigning myselt to a life ot solitude. I. Was. Over. It.

But it was during that family dinner that I met him. At first, he seemed a bit distant, and I didn't think he felt any romantic interest towards me. However, as we talked, a strong connection formed, and I left the dinner longing to speak to him again.

When we said our goodbyes that night, I didn't sense a romantic vibe from him. It felt like he was rushing home :( Once again, I felt defeated. Although, a part of me continued to daydream about the possibility of him reaching out.

I held on to hope for the first few days, but a week went by, and I heard nothing from him. I started feeling down. Contemplating whether should ask my coworker about him. Fearing it would compromise our professional relationship. I convinced myself that mv gut instinct was right-- he simpy wasn't into me.

Then, two weeks later, as I entered my building, the security guard called out to me. He asked if lived in apartment 22, and when I confirmed, he pointed to the most beautiful bouguet sitting on the reception table.

Assuming they were for someone else. I felt a twinge of sadness. All the other girls in the building received flowers, but not me. However, to my surprise, this bouquet was intended for me. It was the first time i received flowers since graduation. I scooped them up and hurried to my apartment to read the accompanying card.

The card read, "Hey, I really enjoyed meeting you and would love to get to know you more... If you're interested, here's my number: XxX-xxX-xxxx. it not, no pressure! Please enjoy these flowers."

From that moment on. everything changed.

He continued to send me beautiful bouquets tor almost every occasion-holidays, birthdays, when was really sick, or feeling down. I learned that his initial distance was due to shyness and nervousness. He didn't know how to approach. The flowers became his way of breaking down the walls between us. Our first date was six hours long and we felt it was short.

And the rest, as they say, is history. He is my person, and even if we sit in silence I am not bored. I always wanted to be a girl who received flowers.