Meet Angela

I Never Thought I’d Get Married—Until I Learned What Love Really Is

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For most of my life, I swore I would never get married. Love, as I had known it, felt unreliable and disappointing. I had a history of failed relationships, betrayal, and settling for whoever gave me attention instead of choosing to do the work. Deep down, I didn’t truly believe in the kind of love that lasts.

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Then, at 42, I met the man who would help me understand what love is—but I didn’t realize it at the time.

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It was supposed to be temporary. I was just visiting Colorado for the summer, and on a whim, I joined a hiking group I found on Meetup. Chris had planned a hike on my birthday, and I thought, What better way to celebrate than climbing mountains with a group of strangers?

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Thirteen people signed up. Only three of us showed up.

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We spent the entire day hiking and talking, moving through the mountains together. Two days later, we met again—this time for what I considered our first date. Chris insists our first date was the day we met because he took me out for pizza and a beer afterward. It’s still a debate.

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But let me be clear: this wasn’t some fairytale moment. It wasn’t love at first sight. I wasn’t planning to keep in touch. Yet, Chris kept calling after I went back to Florida. He told me he loved me early on—though he always added a disclaimer (something he no longer does).

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We broke up a couple of times, dated other people, and walked separate paths, but something kept pulling us back together. The universe was relentless.

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Then, one day, everything changed.

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Chris got seriously ill and was hospitalized. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I didn’t hesitate—I showed up. I took care of him. One night, I even fell asleep in his hospital bed. And somewhere in those quiet, unspoken moments, our connection deepened. It was no longer about excitement or attraction—it was about showing up for each other when it mattered most.

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Shortly after, I decided to move in with Chris. But just a week before the move, I broke my thumb.

For someone as fiercely independent as me, asking for help was foreign. I had never truly relied on anyone. But now, I had no choice. Chris helped me with everything—small things, big things, things I never thought I’d let someone do for me. And in the process, something unexpected happened: I felt safe. I learned that love isn’t about losing yourself—it’s about trusting someone enough to let them in.

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I thought I knew what love was before Chris. I was wrong.

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Real love isn’t about grand gestures or perfect compatibility. It’s about choosing each other, over and over again. It’s about standing side by side, even when it’s hard. It’s about fighting for connection, not against each other. It’s about forgiveness, growth, and the quiet, steady moments that build a foundation stronger than any fleeting romance.

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Chris and I aren’t perfect, but we’re real. We mirror each other, we challenge each other, and we keep showing up. We fight, and more importantly, we repair. We love each other not just in the easy moments, but in the messy, complicated, beautifully human ones.

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And I want every person to experience a love like this. Because every human deserves a love that is steady, kind, and unwavering. A love that feels like home.