Melanie and I met in the dorms at Western Washington University in November 2004. She was wearing Umbro soccer shorts, and when I asked her if she played, she laughed at the ridiculous question and said the shorts were her sister's. It was love at first sight.

Well, for me anyways. It took her about a year to figure it out. I found out she was an art major, emphasis in painting. I'm a computer science major. Registering for Art 109, a modern art history survey, I dropped names like Christo and Jeanne-Claude and Jackson Pollock. Melanie was impressed.The perfect fit, we had everything in common.

I could tell her interest was growing when she invited me to the Picadilly dance. Three hours prior, "I can't find anybody else to go with me, will you?" she asked. Trying to play it cool, I responded "Let me check my schedule real quick..." I delayed, doodling in a notebook and turning pages at random... "Yah, I can work that in." I replied nonchalantly. My friend Evan and I chose our aliases, he was Spiderman, and I Superman. We squeezed in to the children's pajamas and buttoned our dress shirts over top in order to take the appearance of normal citizens.

The dance was a hit. Melanie danced all night while I chatted with friends who were as uncomfortable with dancing as I was. Evan dragged me onto the floor where I practiced the white man shuffle (step left, shift weight and clap, step right). I knew by Melanie's look that she was impressed with my moves. For the final dance we revealed our true identities. To my dismay, I found out that Evan wore a shirt underneath the pajamas, while I was left exposing two inches of pale white midriff.

Mel graduated in the spring, so I decided the best way to express my platonic feelings for her was a framed picture of us. She replied with an awkward thank you and briskly walked away. She flew to San Francisco the day of graduation for the rest of the summer.

Conveniently, a group of friends and I planned a road trip to San Francisco leaving the following day."I was just in the neighborhood," I said coolly, "When can I visit you?" We agreed on the following day, but to my dismay, Matt O'Brian, a friend on the trip, opted to join me. No matter, the visit left me day dreaming for the rest of the summer.

My friend and confidant, Joseph Scheid, warned me that Mel was a dangerous one to have feelings towards. Blindly self-confident, I was convinced that my feelings were reciprocated.

She returned to Bellevue in the fall, and I spent most of my weekends driving to Seattle. I spent time with her family watching movies and eating their food.I found out later that Melanie thought I was such a great guy, that she was trying to set me up with her sister Johanna.

One Sunday night I finally initiated a talk. It was pouring rain as we sat in my parked car. The heat was blaring and the windshield wipers kept rhythm. "So... uh... well, I know the timing isn't great. um, with me in Bellingham and all. But, well, I kinda like you..." It had sounded so eloquent in my head. Mel responded graciously, "I'm so flattered, and I think you're a great guy. I had no idea. I admit I was attracted to you last spring, but you're busy in school and I've graduated."

She was flattered and attracted!!! It wasn't until halfway back to Bellingham that I realized she hadn't given me any answer at all.

She realized this and called me two nights later. "No, I do not want to date you. Not if the timing was better, not if I were in Bellingham, not under any conditions." The words cut deep, but I could take it. "Do you understand?" she asked. "Yes." I responded. "Okay,please repeat back to me what I just said." I was impressed.It was the most concise, straightforward rejection I had ever received. After repeating the rejection, I offered a hopeful suggestion "Do you want to hang out on Friday?" "Sure!" she answered, relieved we were "just friends." I knew it would be just a matter of time before she would come around.

Only Five weeks later, while on my way home from her house, she called. "We need to talk." Finally! After years of waiting she called me. "I want to be with you" she explained.

At 10:30pm, December 3rd, 2005, we became a couple. I remember the date clearly, Melanie sometimes forgets.

Three months later she announced she was leaving the country. "What about me??" I protested. "Well, what about you?" she said. That's when I knew we were going to last, and I was right.