When I first downloaded Bumble, I was a skeptic. I didn’t believe in dating apps; I mean, how can that even be considered meeting someone if you’ve never even met them in real life? The only reason I was on Bumble is because, after my last relationship, my best friend at the time made me download it and create a profile. I did it mainly to make her happy, but I have to admit it was kind of an ego boost when someone would match with me and express any kind of interest in me. I wasn’t looking for anything and I wasn’t ready to jump into anything, I mean I had just been dumped by my ex and was a walking pile of tears. Months went by and I found myself still thoughtlessly swiping, and eventually it was March of 2020, quarantine was just beginning, we had just found out we were being sent home for the rest of the semester, and I got the notification, “Someone wants to meet you on Bumble!” And that’s when everything changed for me.
I’ve never been into the whole casual dating thing; I’m a big believer in dating to marry. I mean, what’s the point of being with someone if you can’t see a future with them? Even more than that, you learn a lot of lessons from the people you find out you don’t like, such as: don’t date a man who forces you into sexual situations, don’t date a cheater and don’t date someone who isn’t all in. So, yeah, I don’t casually date, which makes me a poor candidate for online dating. Almost everyone knows that Tinder is for hookups and Bumble is so-so, which is why I was careful. I never took anyone seriously when they started a conversation or told me they wanted to hang out because I knew they would probably only want me for my body. I quickly learned that it’s never good when a guy starts off the conversation by saying how hot you are or when the first Snapchat you receive is of him shirtless.
He was sweet from the beginning; we talked about everything from school, work, what we were doing that day to sending little jokes back and forth. Because we were so far apart and because of the ever-worsening pandemic, I honestly never thought we would meet in person. I mean, I had a crush on this guy from day one and every time my phone lit up I hoped it was him, but I never thought it would actually turn into anything. And maybe it’s because of how I had been treated in the past by guys or how we’ve been brainwashed to believe that guys online only want sex, but I didn’t get my hopes up. Nonetheless, he proved me wrong, and he proved me wrong big time. We talked every day for almost four months without ever meeting in person. Sure, it was only on Snapchat, but the conversations were never boring. We were really getting to know each other and even though we had never met, he was a big part of my life. I talked to my parents and friends about him, and I made up these silly little scenarios in my mind, picturing how we would meet for the first time. On my 20th birthday, he was the first person to wish me happy birthday, and when I blew out the candles on my cake I wished he would like me too.
Finally, after four months of talking, we met in person, and it was better than I ever could have imagined. Of course there’s that little awkward moment when you’re like, “Oh, hi, you’re real,” but it didn’t last long. I mean, the guy drove two and a half hours and hopped on a boat just to meet me — I couldn’t just let it fizzle out into weird awkwardness. People in movies always talk about sparks, the sparks you feel when you’ve found the one, and, my God, they’re real. Just sitting next to him, close enough so that our legs just barely touched, I could feel them. I was so nervous, but he made it so easy. He liked to think there were awkward silences, but I didn’t agree with that. He talked enough for the both of us, asking me questions to get to know me better and telling me all these stories from his life. And when we kissed for the first time, I was a goner. I was done for, never again did I want to be on another dating app or meet another guy because he was all that mattered.
I asked him to be my boyfriend a month and a half later on the day I knew I was in love with him. Before meeting him if you had asked me if I believed in fate or soulmates, I would probably have said no. They’re concepts that just seem too optimistic and sappy, but now I’m a changed woman thanks to Bumble. He has turned my life upside down, in a good way, and I believe something out there made us meet for a reason. After getting to know him for the man he is and the life he’s lived, I believe in soulmates. I always joke around and say he’s the boy version of me, but we have literally lived the same lives. We’ve dealt with the same issues, the same challenges, and now we have someone to relate to. Let me tell you, knowing that someone else has felt your pain and knows firsthand what you’ve been through is such a good feeling.
I’m an idiot in love — I could talk all day about how much I love this kid. I believe in the magic of Bumble now, because wow, it works in mysterious ways. So that’s my love story, and even though I still think it’s weird that I met the most important person in my life on an app, I’m just thankful it happened at all. Maybe I’m being naive when I say this, but Bumble really paired me with the one person I can see myself with. It couldn’t have done a better job, and no matter what the future holds for us, I will always have love in my heart for him and for Bumble for being such a light in my life.