Our Dreams are Coming True

The first real conversation I had with Sam was at Mentor Marlins. I had just joined the marching band and I recognized him from there so I thought maybe it would be good to introduce myself, clearly we have a lot in common, and I was looking to make a friend as I transitioned into high school. I went up to him and as we were chatting this girl came over, grabbed him by the arm, and said "Stay away from my man." Sam had the most horrified look. I could see his eyes scream "HELP ME" as this was not a mutual relationship. Maybe not my finest moment, but I walked off. We hung around the same crowd in marching band and then when the high school swim team began, our friendship blossomed. He quickly became one of my closest friends, but that's all he was, a friend. One day, my friend Taylor pointed out "Hey that guy is kinda cute." I had never looked at Sam like that before because I was always in a relationship, but when she pointed it out I couldn't help but agree. In December 2017 we started holding hands on the swim bus... I mean the bus was cold... what were we supposed to do? I continued my flirting. After band one day I said "Could you hold this" as I held out my hand in a fist (as if there was something in my hand). He said "Yes", and to his surprise, I interlocked my hand with his and we walked toward our next class. I had already told Sam that I liked him, but he said he wasn't ready for a relationship, so I was just waiting for him to be ready. It only took about two weeks after I confessed my feelings for him to decide he wanted to be my boyfriend. We made things official at my birthday party on January 20th, 2018. Later on, we realized we met a few times prior, as we had been on the same swim team for years before ever being friends. I realized there is a Mentor Marlins team photo where he is sitting directly in front of me. This is funny to think because if he was in front that means he was shorter. I also remembered that I did a relay race with him for practice. We needed groups of four and I had a partner so I was looking for another set of two. I found Sam with one other guy so I asked them to team up, but I didn't strike up a conversation because he was a couple of lanes ahead of me so I was afraid of talking to someone better than me. Now knowing Sam I should have never been afraid, he would never try to make anyone feel inferior. The last story I have is pretty wholesome. There was a tent that had blown into the water at a Mentor Marlins swim meet. Someone had mistakenly set up their tent the night before and did not use a stake. I saw the tent in the water and wanted to help, but I knew I couldn't do it on my own and there weren't many people around yet. Some time passed and I saw a couple of boys in the water trying to fish out the tent, so I jumped in, and together we were able to get the tent out. It didn't come to light till years later that Sam was one of the boys in the water. God had a plan all along and we were meant to be. I am glad I ended up with such a kind-hearted man.