Once upon a time there was a girl, who moved across the world to a little town in northern Denmark to study. She was 18 years old and knew no one. Making friends was difficult as she was shy and didn’t speak much Danish.

One day a young man approached her while she was at the local gym. He became her best friend. They could talk about everything. Some people thought they dated, because they were always together. They even had weekend jobs at the same disco, she as a bartender and he as a doorman.

Sometimes after work, in the wee morning hours, they would get fresh bread at the bakers, go to his place, and have breakfast in bed, but never being intimate. They even travelled to Norway together and slept in the same tiny cot, bodies never touching.

They cared deeply about each other and there was definitely an attraction between. However, there was a deeper connection than just the physical. Both silently feared losing their best friend if they crossed that line. The girl ended up moving in with one of his closest friends. Meanwhile, the young lad dated others. In fact, he dated some of her friends briefly.

When the girl’s boyfriend broke her heart, she moved out, and her best friend was there, as always, to catch the fall. They did share a little kiss then but nothing more. The friendship was too strong and the fear of losing it too great still.

Four years into their friendship, she went to his engagement party. He married and had two children. She moved to another city to attend college for two years. At this point they had been friends for eight years. Then she moved back to her native country. Living on different continents, they lost complete touch for seven years. During that time, he had divorced, pursued his profession and moved away from Denmark. She married, had a new surname and was not listed anywhere.

One year he was in her city on business and by chance, found out where she worked and called. She was on holidays. Luckily, he left his email address. They rekindled their friendship 4,000 km apart. He told her he was getting married. She and her husband flew to his wedding. It was a warm and tearful reunion. The connection was stronger than ever.

The next six years they only saw each other three times, when business brought them to their respective cities. They kept in touch via e-mail, phone and Skype.

A few years ago she divorced and moved back to Europe. He travelled there a lot on business so they always hoped to meet in Denmark. It finally happened last august, over a coffee. They hadn’t seen each other in person for three years, but it didn’t feel like that to them. They could talk as freely and easily as always, as if no time had passed. He was now separated and moving back to Denmark after ten years abroad, to the same little town where they had met 25 years earlier.

Last fall he came to visit her for three days and they hung out together, just as naturally as they had done when they were young. They talked and pondered over why they had always hesitated at the chance to take their friendship to the next level.

Shortly after his visit, it was crystal clear to both of them that the friendship was much more than that. It simply had to be explored further. The timing was perfect. They became inseparable. To say that they fell madly and deeply in love after 25 years of friendship is an understatement. On June 19 he got down on one knee and asked her to be his forever. I said yes and we will live happily ever after. The End.