It started at a football club. I never played, in fact, I can barely catch a ball. But week after week, I sat in the cold watching the women play. As they would run on to the field, there was this one player, who would slow down, smile at me and say, “hi kiara, how are you?”.

10 years later, I was scrolling through a dating app and saw that same smiling face. I sent a quick message to say hello. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. That hello message turned into talking well into the night and then several more nights of chatting and learning about each other.

Finally we went on a date. And we walked for two hours on the beach after dinner. The rest has flown by like a whirlwind.We married two years later, on the same beach that we spent that evening walking.

We went through the tough process of IVF and eventually had a little girl. And here we are, our own little fairytale. There is so much love and friendship between us. I still spend my winter weekends watching her play football and she still slows down and looks for me as she runs on to the field.

My love story with the love of my life.