Do you believe in love at first sight? You know, the kind in romcoms where the dreamy guy catches the eyes of a pretty girl across the street, and they make an instant connection, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after?
No?
I didn’t either. Until I met John.
John and I first laid eyes on each other in early 2014, and not necessarily in the most conventional way.
I was working in a busy, private oncology clinic. I was two years into a not so healthy marriage, going to school, and trying to convince myself my marriage and life wasn’t falling apart.
John was a new patient to our clinic. He had recently been diagnosed with Metastatic Melanoma and had been referred to the clinic for treatment. As I called him back to the exam room, I couldn’t help but notice his sparkling eyes, and his nervous smile — one I would soon figure out would transfer into an enormous, squinty eye, full teeth smile that he was known for. Ask him about something he loved (his dog, the outdoors, or snowboarding) and be ready to be hit with that earth shattering smile. I knew he was a special human the first time we met. I just didn’t know how much he would go on to impact my life.
Now, let me stop you right there for a second. John was my PATIENT, and I was married. We chatted from time to time in the clinic, but, I’m not some creeper who goes full Izzy/Denny and preys upon handsome young men I am caring for (Grey’s Anatomy reference for those who aren’t into medical dramas). I ensured that our patient/caregiver relationship was professional and safe.
Fast forward to summer of 2015. I had started a new job at a hospital, was divorced and had just moved into a tiny little duplex within walking distance from work. I had made an online dating profile and had been swiping haphazardly here and there. I was standing in my kitchen eating takeout from a box when suddenly, a new profile popped up on my screen:
John W, 34. Puyallup.
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