He was one of my best friends for a number of years (13+) before we got together...

My  friends and I were  waiting to enter a nightclub to celebrate my Best friend's 18th birthday. One of our friends had invited two of her male friends to join us and they were late! Eventually Karl and Rudy showed up. I remember being introduced to him and thinking he had a nice smile and baby face but looked like Jonny Bravo with a big body and a little turtle head! LOL.

I remember he only danced with me twice and then spent most of the night talking to me rather than dancing. Little did i know that the reason for this was that he had the "hots" for me! I was too shy and "nerdy" to know this back then.

He was good company and we hit it off as friends immediately. I remember thinking after our meeting that night that he was a cool person and good company.

We became part of a large circle of friends. When the group of us went out he would always be looking for me to see if i was okay. I never worried about him trying to take advantage of me. If a fight broke out in a party, he would shield me from injury. If i was cold, i had his jacket or jersey to keep me warm. If i needed to sleep on the way home, i could sleep on his shoulder without any worry. I was always extremely comfortable around him.

He would always say that he had to protect me and would always take care of me no matter what. This was not strange to me because from the start of our friendship he was one of my liming buddies who looked after the "smallie with the shirley temple curls". (In case you wondering…that’s how I got the nickname ‘Shirley” in the first place). I was barely 110lb back then and wore my hair in tight drop curls!

 “Meeting each other was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but... Falling in love with you was beyond my control.” – Unknown

Rudy and I have been together for 10+ years.

We have had many challenges (mainly health... too numerous to mention) over the years but we are still together and going strong. We try to have a positive outlook on life because life can change in an instant (as we have learnt all too well!). We will always be okay once these two best friends always remain by each other’s side.

He's always there walking with me, holding my hand and encouraging me. And, I’m always there to give him the supportive push when he needs it.