With every swipe right, comes a little hope inside of you that this one will message you and the two of you will work out. But then reality hits, you realize it's 2018, and the dating game is not what it used to be. It sucks.
I'm constantly surrounded with success stories amongst my best friends when it comes to dating apps. One of my best friends met her boyfriend of 2-years with just a simple swipe on Bumble. As someone who's been using these apps for quite a while, I tend to wonder, "Will this swipe work out?"
But then, I look at couples like my best friend, Abbey and her boyfriend, Jake. Now when I say these two were made for each other, they were made for each other.
Around four years ago, my best friend had just gotten out of a toxic relationship and took a few months away from dating. After going to a country concert, she never thought that night would be the night that would change her life for the next four years.
That night, she met Jake through mutual friends and right away they hit it off. Something just clicked. I remember hearing her tell me all about him, and I could hear nothing but pure happiness in her voice. At this point in her life, she wasn't looking for anything serious and the last thing on her mind was getting into another relationship. But sometimes, you just meet the right person that has the power to change your mind.
It takes a special kind to do that for someone as stubborn as my best friend. (Good job, Jake.)
After exchanging numbers and bonding over their love of country music, Abbey had a good feeling, but she was looking to just be friends at the time. Or so she thought.
Later that night, Abbey and her friends ended up getting into a car accident. Thankfully, everyone was okay. But after Jake found out, he texted Abbey right away with concern to make sure she was okay. Bonus points to you, Jake.
If he never texted her that night to make sure she was okay, who knows if they would even be together right now.
The first time I'd heard about Jake. I will be honest, I was very protective. After seeing your best friend go through a heartache, you become like Hannah Montana's bodyguard, Roxie. "Roxie like a puma." You are now that puma.
I wasn't about to let some guy just try and date my best friend again. She's too good for that. She needed someone who wasn't going to waste her time.
Four years later, and not even a second of her time has been wasted.
As the dominantly single friend, I've dealt with plenty of my friends' relationships. Some have made me wonder why they're even together, while Abbey and Jake's relationship gives me hope to have a relationship as strong and real as theirs.
After spending time with them for the past four years, nothing has changed. Jake still looks at Abbey like she's the most beautiful girl in the world, and Abbey looks at Jake like she's so thankful to have met him that summer night four years ago. They both feel a sense of security with one another, and within this generation, a genuine connection is so hard to find.
Seeing the intensity of love they share with one another, gives me a sense of confidence to know that my prince charming is out there somewhere. I don't know if I'll find him through the art of swiping right or by bumping into him on the street someday, but my best friend's relationship inspires me to never settle for anything less than what I deserve.
Here's to you, Abbey and Jake. Thank you for showing me what true love looks like and that it still exists.
