Prologue
Some meetings arrive quietly. Others feel as though the universe has leaned in and whispered, Pay
attention—this matters.
I did not know it then, but the night I met him in Bali would become a beginning I would carry for the
rest of my life.
For two years, I had chosen solitude. No dating. No expectations. I had learned how to protect my heart
by keeping it closed. Bali was not meant to be the place where that changed—it was simply where I was
living, working, surviving, learning how to stand again after disappointments that had taught me
caution.
And yet, on one ordinary night, the universe chose otherwise.
Chapter 1 — Bali, September 5
We met on September 5, 2025, at a small pub in Bali.
I arrived early and waited for almost an hour, my nerves growing heavier with every passing minute. I remember wondering why I had agreed to come at all. I wasn't even sure I wanted to like him. I felt awkward, guarded, and far from confident.
When he finally walked in, something shifted. Not dramatically—just enough to make me breathe
easier.
We ordered drinks. Conversation came slowly at first, then more naturally. Two hours passed without
effort—talking, laughing, sharing stories over beer. Eventually, we left the bar and went for dinner
nearby, where the conversation deepened. He listened in a way that felt rare. He didn't rush to impress;
he was simply present.
What surprised me most was how quickly I felt comfortable. I hadn't expected that. The way he carried
himself, the softness of his smile, the ease between us—it disarmed me.
Later that night, we returned to his hotel. I hesitated. This wasn't something I usually did. But he never
pushed, never rushed me. He made me feel safe, cared for, and respected. That was what convinced me
to stay.
Looking back, it feels as if the universe had quietly aligned everything. I had taken time off work for no
clear reason. I had agreed to meet a stranger when I normally wouldn't have. Nothing felt forced, yet
everything felt intentional.
From that night on, we kept seeing each other. Slowly, carefully, something real began to grow.
Chapter 2 — Chosen Again
Eventually, his holiday in Bali came to an end. He was flying to Komodo Island, while I returned to work.
I didn't expect much afterward—holiday connections often disappear as easily as they begin. I didn't
chase, didn't ask for promises. I let things be.
Then something unexpected happened.
He kept texting.
He sent updates from his trip, photos, small details about his day. He made space for me, even when
distance made it unnecessary. And then, the moment that truly touched me—he changed his entire
holiday plan just to come back to Bali and see me again.
He lost money. He received no refunds. None of it mattered to him.
At first, I thought he was joking. It felt unreal, almost too good to believe. But he meant it. He chose me.
On September 10, just a few days after we first met, we saw each other again.
When I arrived at the hotel and saw him waiting for me, happiness rushed through me in a way I had
never experienced before. It was unexpected, overwhelming, and deeply real. Being with him felt
natural—effortless, as if our connection had been waiting for the right moment to exist.
Something inside me changed. I was no longer the person who believed I would never feel this way
again.
Chapter 3 — Loving Across Distance
When he finally had to return to France, I tried to stay strong. But I could see the sadness in his eyes,
and it broke me. We had only known each other for a week, yet it felt as though we had shared a
lifetime.
Distance arrived suddenly and without mercy.
The first mornings without him felt wrong—the bed colder, the room quieter. I missed him in ways I
couldn't explain. Even so, his presence never truly left. Across time zones and oceans, we stayed
connected: messages carefully timed, gentle calls, virtual kisses meant to close the space between us.
I learned that love doesn't disappear with distance—it transforms. It becomes patience. Trust. Effort.
Every day carried longing, but also certainty. Whatever this was between us, it was real. And the
universe, once again, seemed to whisper the same message:
Keep going.
Chapter 4 — The Return
When he told me he was coming back to Bali in November, I counted the days without shame. Distance
had taught me patience, but hope had given that patience a heartbeat.
The night before his arrival, sleep refused to come. I imagined his arms, his familiar scent, the way his
smile made the world feel softer. When November 1 finally arrived, time seemed to slow down just to
test me.
I waited for him at the hotel lobby, pacing, pretending to look calm while my heart raced. Then I heard
the sound of suitcases hitting the floor. I turned—and there he was, running toward me.
He hugged me tightly, kissed me without hesitation, his eyes full of emotion. After two months apart,
we were finally together again. In that moment, the distance we had endured felt unreal, as if it had
only existed to prove how strong we were.
Chapter 5 — Legian Days
From November 1 to November 5, we stayed together in Legian. Life slowed down to a gentler rhythm.
Even on mornings when I had to work, I rushed through my tasks just to return to him.
We didn't plan much. We didn't need to. Our days were filled with quiet breakfasts, aimless walks,
teasing laughter, and the simple comfort of being close. Waking up beside him felt natural—like
something my body had always known how to do.
Those days taught me something important: love doesn't need constant excitement. Sometimes, it
simply needs presence.
Chapter 6 — Lombok: Passion and Promise
Lombok marked our second month together. It was our first real trip as a couple, and he planned
everything with care.
The island welcomed us with calm beaches, golden sunsets, and a sense of privacy that felt sacred. We
explored without rushing, talked without distraction, and held each other as if time itself had softened.
One evening, standing on a hill as the sun disappeared into the horizon, I felt it clearly—this was not
just a holiday. This was a memory I would carry forever.
Chapter 7 — Gili Air: Where Love Learned to Breathe
Gili Air was quieter than anywhere we had been. No cars. No rush. Just sand, sea, and slow footsteps.
We walked everywhere, hand in hand. Some days were too hot, and I grew irritable, but he never pulled
away. He asked if I was okay, grounded me with patience, reminded me that love doesn't disappear
when comfort fades.
In our small villa, with its private pool and quiet nights, love softened. It became gentle, playful, safe.
Chapter 8 — The Weight of Goodbye
Returning to Bali felt heavier than arriving. I knew what was coming.
On his last day, I watched him pack in silence, memorizing every movement. At the airport, I tried to be
strong, but love has a way of exposing every fragile place.
When he walked toward immigration, crying openly, my heart broke in ways I didn't know were
possible. Still, we reminded each other: this was not the end.
Chapter 9 — December Cracks
Two weeks after his return to France, something shifted. Messages became shorter. Calls grew less
frequent. My heart, already sensitive from loss, filled the silence with fear.
Our first argument arrived quietly but left a deep mark. Not because of anger—but because love had
exposed how much we mattered to each other.
We spoke honestly. We cried. We gave each other space.
And I learned that love is not proven by perfection, but by the courage to stay when things become
uncomfortable.
Epilogue — Chosen, Again and Again
I don't know how our story will end. Love never comes with guarantees, no matter how deeply we
believe in it.
What I do know is this: the universe brought us together when my heart was closed. It tested us with
distance, reunited us with joy, and challenged us with honesty. Each chapter asked something different
of us — patience, courage, vulnerability, trust.
This story is not about perfection. It is about choosing — choosing to stay open, choosing to grow,
choosing love even when fear whispers louder.
If love is a journey, then this is only one part of the path.
And for as long as the universe allows, I choose him — again and again.