An exchange year.

You never thought it would change anything. And yet, it changed everything.

You were seventeen when you went to the USA, studying at Boston College. You just wanted to tried it, get to know new people and things. You didn't plan on fall in love here, or meeting your future husband.

It was in the hall of campus. That’s where you met him for the first time — William Smith. Blonde hair, blue eyes, always smiling. Your very first thought? What an idiot.

Your friend was dating his friend, which is how you ended up spending so much time together. He played ice hockey for the college team, and you started going to his games. Cheering from the stands, pretending it meant nothing. From your side, it was just politeness. At least that’s what you kept telling yourself. Because the way he looked at you scared you. There was something in his eyes that said this wasn’t just a game to him. That this meant everything.

Time passed. You returned to your home country, finished school, graduated — all that boring, ordinary stuff.

Two years later, after graduating, you decided to move to California. Far from home. Far from Boston, where you had first learned what the USA really felt like. But nothing could have prepared you for seeing him again.

It was a completely ordinary day. You went ice skating at the stadium. And there he was — just after practice, wearing a San Jose Sharks jersey.

An NHL jersey.

He noticed you. Of course he did. He always does. This time, he just stood there, frozen, like he had just seen a ghost