If you haven’t read the Introduction to this series, I recommend that you do. We are sharing Real Love stories. Stories that have hurt, pain but maturity and ultimately, JOY. In a culture that is so fast paced, self-focused and all about the falling in love part of our story with no concept of afterwards, we here at the Busy Nothings are striving to sit back and share from our own experiences what we feel true, pure, sacrificial love is. When you choose it even though it hurts or is hard work. The beauty, PASSION and true love that comes from this are better than any fairy tale. ~Heidi
{Beloved protector}
“I think I have a crush on that guy” I whispered to my friend…
Now don’t worry, this is not a story about falling in love with my high school sweetheart. This is not a storybook romance. I was 21 years old, in a relationship with another man, and couldn’t get my mind off of this guy I worked with. He was a guy full of mystery, who dressed well and smelled even better. A guy who I had worked with for 2 years and who I probably spoke to once. He was also 7 years older than me, was confident and self assured. He was one intimidating, dark horse of a man.
I had to speak to him. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
First a little background-
My early 20’s were not good for me. A bit of a disaster really. I had been in a serious two year relationship that had just ended abruptly. One that I thought would lead to marriage. My trust in men was in the trash and my trust in God along with it. I was spending the majority of my time with my best friend who was a drug addict and a horrible influence. I turned to the bottle one too many times. There were a few months where I couldn’t remember one day of sobriety. It was dark and ugly, and I was on the verge of breaking…And I did. I nearly got kicked out of the house I was living in due to experimentation with drugs, college grades were in the dump and my best friend, the addict, even attempted suicide.
My life was broken into pieces and I cried out for help.
Thankfully someone was listening…
I began to grasp on to the voice of truth, that despite my best efforts of drowning out was etched so deeply on my heart, that it began to get louder and louder
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I began to cling to these words, chanting them like a mantra. I began the baby steps of clearing the fog towards sobriety. I began seeing a therapist and even began taking antidepressants. I admitted my faults and sins in front of my family and friends, even my church. It was humiliating and painful but slowly I began to mend.
A few months later, with prayer, accountability, and making much better life choices I began to heal. I even went to China to teach English for the summer. Made some of the most amazing memories of a lifetime.
And that’s when I met him. David.
I actually made the first move. He always fights me on this saying he had dropped flirty statements here and there but no- I made the first move and since I’m the one writing this story we’ll go with my version. 
We had this joke at our job that David got special treatment. And he really did. He was always allowed to show up a little later because his Landscape Architecture classes were in the afternoon. His class always ended with a presentation which required that he dress up, tie included. So he would show up to work dressed up, hair done, looking pretty handsome. I always laughed with a coworker that he smelled amazing and we would jokingly smell his clothes that he hung up in the back. This went on for awhile- the secret crush… watching him from across the restaurant. Then one day…
I had the opportunity to say to him my first words.
“I’ve been stalking you.”
Great opener Katy. Not creepy at all.
And he said, with that killer smile, “how about I stalk you later, and we go on a date.”
Our first picture together! {{First kiss!}}