Never in a million years did either of us think that talking to someone across the world would turn into more than a couple of phone calls. Yet here we are. It all started when I found out that an old college friend of mine was moving back to the States. I was excited to catch up — but before I could even enjoy the news, she hit me with, “Are you still single?” and then, “Are you looking to settle down and get married soon?” Not gonna lie, I had a feeling I knew where this was headed. I braced myself for either a nudge to get back on the apps, or worse, a setup. And sure enough — it was the latter. Before she even told me who her friend was, I immediately shut it down. Long-distance? Across the ocean? Dating is hard enough when you’re in the same city — how was I supposed to date someone in another country? So, I did what most guys would do: I ignored the idea altogether. A few days later, she sends me her friend’s Facebook profile and casually says, “This is the girl, by the way.” I did a little light snooping, and honestly, it only confirmed what I already thought — this wasn’t going to work. She was way out of my league. The list of reasons not to pursue this kept growing. So, I didn’t message her. A week goes by, and my friend calls me up. “Why haven’t you reached out?” she asked. I started to list my excuses, but she wasn’t having it. “Just message her,” she insisted. “You’re not committing to anything, just see how it goes.” From our second phone call, I knew there was something different about her. She was special. The crazy part? I couldn’t even tell if she liked me back. But a few more conversations in, and I was hooked. That’s when I realized I was in trouble — because I was falling fast for someone who lived thousands of miles away. And the more I talked to her, the more I began to understand why dating had always felt so hard before. I guess dating isn’t hard but, dating the wrong person is. With her, everything just made sense. No matter what obstacles were in our way — or what challenges still lie ahead — I have no doubt we’ll overcome them together as we overcame so much already. That’s when I knew: no amount of distance, no ocean, no timezone could change how I felt. She’s the one I want by my side for the rest of my life. I never used to believe in fate in the traditional term. I always believed in naseeb, but I never really understood what that meant. Now I do. To me, it means that no matter how impossible the odds may seem, if God wills it, it will happen. And I’m so grateful that, against all odds, you happened to me. I’m happy you are my fate, my naseeb, Alaa.