2014 we met online right before I moved to Clarksville, TN from my hometown in California. Eric and I talked almost daily for a couple months before my move. We clicked... so I thought. Once moved and settled in, Eric and I finally met in person. However, I wasn't exactly aware of what Eric's favorite hobby was at the time, but quickly found out as he became one of my regulars where I bartended. For a few months we talked almost daily, saw each other frequently... mostly while I was working, but our friendship wasn't what it had been prior to my move, nor what I really wanted. I drastically distanced myself until eventually we had zero communication for months at a time. Call it cowardly, but I didn’t have the guts to tell him that his lifestyle didn't mesh well with my personal life. So I ignored and avoided him. Over the next 4-5 years, we would randomly stumble across each other on various social media sites (usually some dating site lol) and we might send a "hi" or "how have you been" message, but nothing more. December 2019 there his picture was on a chat site. So I messaged him and said my number hadn't changed and to text or call me sometime. Immediately my phone was flooded with texts.. long ones too! We chatted for a couple days, but then drifted. The first week of February 2020 I was heading out to run errands and Eric randomly popped in my mind. I asked if he'd like to have lunch and he agreed. We realized during lunch that afternoon, that was the first time I'd EVER seen him sober. My entire brain was in shock: Why was I so nervous?... Why is he so dang handsome!!!!!?... Who is this guy!?... This can't be the same Eric... In ways he really wasn't the same Eric I'd known years prior. But I did know from that exact day, he was the only person I'd ever want to have a date with again. Since that day I annoy, smother, follow and invade all of his personal space. I get butterflies, blush, chills and my heart races all because of him. I'm not ashamed to admit that I am totally obsessed and truly in love.. for the rest of forever. ♡ Vickey Mendonca