Hello! As promised… here’s the story of how D and I met!

The Summer of ’13

We met in the Summer of 2013, August 10^th to be precise! I was 16, he was 17. It was at a Deaf school in Berkshire, UK on a Deaf Young Leader’s course. It was a week-long residential, which we enjoyed and made lots of new friends.

Worries and doubts…

I had doubts about going on the course, as I didn’t have any deaf friends and I was scared as I wouldn’t know anyone. My parents convinced me to go and I told myself to pull through it, as I’d get an Arts Qualification at the end of it.

I was the last person to turn up on the day, it was so embarrassing walking into a room full of deaf people all staring at me!

My boyfriend always says, his first memory of me was hearing that there’s “one more person to show up”… to which he joked with the others that he wished they’d “hurry up!” – not realising it would be his future girlfriend walking through the door!

The first day and night

The first day went quite well, we did a lot of team building activities and made quite a few friends!

The first night, I thought everyone went to bed early as they weren’t in the common room so I went to bed myself! Suddenly, there’s another girl in my room trying to wake me up, bearing in mind I didn’t have my hearing aids in and we’re all deaf!

She was trying to tell me that this guy wanted to see me! I was in my pyjamas, make-up off, retainer in… not looking my best, and I trawled out of my room to see who it was, and what he wanted.

It was D, he said: “can I have a hug”… aww! I didn’t really know him too well, but I gave him one and after that I went to bed and couldn’t stop dreaming about him!

Getting to know each other

The next few days, we spent breakfast, lunch and dinner together, as well as the free time we had during the course. We got along so well, lots of laughs and ‘banter’ (as he likes to say!)

The moment of truth…

On the last day, we finally asked each other where we lived! I said East England… his response was… North Wales.

I felt my stomach drop.

The goodbye was awful as we were crying a lot… Dad thought I had a terrible week! But no, I met someone truly special!

When we got home, he asked me to be his Girlfriend!

August 14^th 2013, it was official! We were determined to make it work, and guess what? We’re still going strong! I wouldn’t change a thing, well… maybe the distance!

251 miles apart.

Being long distance, it’s hard and heart-breaking especially when we just can’t be there for each other, through the ups and downs, when one is ill, or just in the need of a hug or a shoulder to cry on.

I can’t tell you how much I miss him when he’s not around. Even though we text regularly, FaceTime or Skype often… it’s not the same, especially being deaf and lip-reading through terrible Wi-Fi connections!

We only meet when we can, often every couple of months as we’re both busy, plus train tickets are expensive.

People ask how I do it, I really don’t know!

I guess if you’ve found the one, you’ll do anything to make it work!

I do consider myself lucky, as some couples live even further, others with an ocean between them! Long distance relationships do work, it’s a matter of time, patience, trust and communication. It’s always worth it when you finally meet, and all the worries float away!

I’d love to hear your relationship stories, please share them with me!

Hope this didn’t leave you in tears, like it did for me!

Love E x