They always say, "Love will find you when you least expect it." You've heard it a thousand times, and each time, it feels less like comfort and more like a cruel joke. It's a phrase that makes the ache of being single feel even sharper, especially when you've done everything right. You've had your share of boyfriends, sure—a few awkward attempts in middle school, a couple of fleeting high school romances—but nothing that ever stuck, nothing that felt real.

Now in college, you’ve thrown yourself into your studies, burying your longing for something more beneath a mountain of textbooks. But there's this guy. You’ve had a few classes with him, and you can’t help but notice his easy smile and warm energy. He’s like a golden retriever—friendly, helpful, and utterly captivating. You’ve wanted to talk to him, to tell him how you feel, but every time you get close, you find a reason to retreat, your courage failing you at the last moment.

One dreary afternoon, as you’re leaving the university, your mind is a million miles away. You trip on an uneven patch of pavement, your body lurching forward. You close your eyes, bracing for the hard, unforgiving ground. But it never comes. Instead, you're enveloped in a strong, steady embrace. You open your eyes and look up. It's him. The golden retriever guy. He’s holding you, his face a mixture of surprise and concern. In that moment, with your books scattered on the ground and his hands on your arms, you realize that maybe, just maybe, they were right all along. And in the most unexpected way, love did find you.