My life was OK. I felt light and naïve again. After spending almost six years with a spanish boyfriend, it was time to be back to my roots. I broke his heart after refusing his wedding proposal. He was a wonderful person but I was too young and I still wanted to do so many things. Feeling wild and free!
My days were fine. Waking up early was a piece of cake. My work suited me, and I had my friends and family around. Travelling, reading, and writing fulfilled my spirit. I was expecting nothing, so I never felt disappointed.
And then one day, I met you. Actually, I bumped into you, literally. They told me you were very handsome and you smelled wonderfully. In addition to my severe myopia, I have no sense of smell, so I believed everything I heard that cold night of February 14th. Besides, I thought this was just a silly unexpected encounter.
Twenty years have passed, and the butterflies keep flying in my stomach. Little did I know that we would live in Geneva, Tenerife, Paris, San Sebastián, Fuerteventura, Lisbon, and Saint-Malo. We shared glories and pains. If only I could imagine that I would almost lose my life as well as our baby boy’s when giving birth for the first time. And when we thought that we would never overcome this traumatic episode, life gave us a beautiful little girl.
Your sense of humour makes miracles, and your smile shines up my grey days. I am blessed and thankful for everything we’ve got. Looking back these twenty years, it seemed like twenty days! Time really flies.
We never celebrate Saint Valentine. However, the 14th of February will always be our date!
And remember, the best is yet to come!

_{Filipa Moreira da Cruz}