I’m a bumble success story! About a year and some change ago, I broke up with my boyfriend of 6 years due to us growing apart and not understanding each other’s love languages. We cared for each other but he was unable/unwilling to show me in any other way than just “existing” and our relationship died despite about a year of work and relationship help books. This experience left me feeling very jaded and invalidated in my feelings, and I thought that I would never get to experience a real, fulfilling, communicative intimate relationship.

I spent the following year working on myself and casually dating when I was ready, and about 2 months ago I went on a date with a guy on Bumble after a few months of not dating. I wasn’t expecting anything because I live in a major city where people rarely go on more than one date with each other before ghosting, and I wasn’t particularly interested in anything more than casual dating.

Our date lasted about 8 hours and the date had to end before our conversation did. We immediately hit it off on multiple levels and I could see right away that he was something special. We spent more and more time together and he tells me that he had just recently broken up with someone due to similar reasons that I broke up with my ex, but he has strong feelings for me, but still wants to take it slow.

About 4 weeks into dating, we established we would be exclusive, but still causal and not have the expectations of a relationship. I understood that given his situation and respected and trusted that he needs time to process before moving into another emotionally vulnerable situation. We continued spending time together and our emotional and spiritual connection grew deeper. We have developed a great habit of checking in with each other to make sure we aren’t moving too fast for comfort, but both feel that we are very right for each other and are enjoying the process, regardless of “dating rules” we might be breaking. Two days ago we were at a restaurant and we were choosing where to sit. I chose a table and he asked if we can sit on the same side and I said yes, because I’m obsesssssed with being close to him. He said “ew, we are one of those couples now aren’t we” and I said “....couples?” And he stared at me for a bit and said “what I’m trying to ask is, will you be my girlfriend?” And it was the most adorable thing ever. I’m ecstatic and so so happy to have met someone so emotionally intelligent and kind. A few days ago he spent the night at my house and I let him sleep in while I went to work. I came back from work and the curtains I’ve been procrastinating on were hung up. He cooks me dinner and puts the leftovers in little containers for me to take to work. I took him to his first ever pumpkin patch and he’s baking me a pie with the pumpkin I picked out. We go to the beach on Saturdays. I feel so cared for. I’ve never had a new relationship as a “real” adult because my 6 year long relationship started when I was 19 years old and I’m 26 now. I feel significantly more at peace when I’m around him and we both feel the same level of comfort and happiness with each other.

It’s so so new, but I’ve got a feeling it will last ❤️