Friendship that blossomed into true love

by Cindy

Love is something we cannot always see with our eyes; sometimes we don't notice what we have in the palm of our hands.

My best friend Michael and I have been friends for five years. We met when I was a Freshman in High School; he was a junior.
However, my first love was Michael's best guy friend. Michael was like a big brother to me while we were young. But after High school Michael joined the Army and moved to Hawaii.

We talked a lot on the phone and online while he was living there. About a year ago, Michael was sent to Iraq. We talk everyday online and we are still best friends. We talk about anything and everything. Michael is a NCO, e4 who takes care of 10 soldiers.

About a week ago he showed one of his female soldiers a picture of me and she asked him: "If you love her, then why don't you marry her?". He pondered the idea for about three days, and then he decided to tell me this story. I was thrilled about the idea and so was he. :)

Michael is expected to be home in 71 days. We are planning our wedding for August/ September of this year in South Lake Tahoe, California. A small intimate wedding with our close friends and family. After we get married, I will move to Hawaii with him while finishing my college education and working for Starbucks.