The Spark That Changed Everything
It was April 2023 and I had just arrived in Melbourne, Australia for a book signing event. The trip was a chance encounter with Craig, an Australian photographer who lived in my hometown of Victoria, Canada. We had met online through a phone game about surviving a zombie apocalypse, bonding over our shared love of geeky things.
As we explored the city together, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this could be more than just a casual meetup. But with all the isolation and loneliness of the past two years still fresh in my mind, I was hesitant to take any chances.
We spent our days wandering through Melbourne's coffee shops, chocolate stores, and bookstores, laughing and joking like old friends. As we ended each day with train rides out to quirky shops selling replica swords and armor, I began to realize that this could be something special.
It wasn't until Craig put down his camera and asked for permission to kiss me that the moment truly crystallized into a romantic connection. The proposal was as unexpected as it was beautiful - just like our initial online friendship had been.
Looking back, I can see that it was our shared geekiness and sense of humor that brought us together in the first place. But it was also a chance to reconnect with myself after years of isolation. Craig's kind heart, genuine smile, and easy laugh won me over from the start.
We spent every spare moment together, building a relationship that bridged oceans and continents. Our love wasn't built on grand gestures or fairy tale romances - just on our shared laughter, adventures, and geeky enthusiasm for life.
The months ahead of us were challenging, with long-distance video chats and video dates punctuated by periods of physical separation. But through it all, Craig remained steadfast and loving, a constant source of support and encouragement in the face of uncertainty.
And so we got married in March 2025, surrounded by friends, family, and our own little patch of Aussie sunshine.
In this moment I realized that true love wasn't something you found - but rather created with someone special.
It was April 2023 and I had just arrived in Melbourne, Australia for a book signing event. The trip was a chance encounter with Craig, an Australian photographer who lived in my hometown of Victoria, Canada. We had met online through a phone game about surviving a zombie apocalypse, bonding over our shared love of geeky things.
As we explored the city together, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this could be more than just a casual meetup. But with all the isolation and loneliness of the past two years still fresh in my mind, I was hesitant to take any chances.
We spent our days wandering through Melbourne's coffee shops, chocolate stores, and bookstores, laughing and joking like old friends. As we ended each day with train rides out to quirky shops selling replica swords and armor, I began to realize that this could be something special.
It wasn't until Craig put down his camera and asked for permission to kiss me that the moment truly crystallized into a romantic connection. The proposal was as unexpected as it was beautiful - just like our initial online friendship had been.
Looking back, I can see that it was our shared geekiness and sense of humor that brought us together in the first place. But it was also a chance to reconnect with myself after years of isolation. Craig's kind heart, genuine smile, and easy laugh won me over from the start.
We spent every spare moment together, building a relationship that bridged oceans and continents. Our love wasn't built on grand gestures or fairy tale romances - just on our shared laughter, adventures, and geeky enthusiasm for life.
The months ahead of us were challenging, with long-distance video chats and video dates punctuated by periods of physical separation. But through it all, Craig remained steadfast and loving, a constant source of support and encouragement in the face of uncertainty.
And so we got married in March 2025, surrounded by friends, family, and our own little patch of Aussie sunshine.
In this moment I realized that true love wasn't something you found - but rather created with someone special.
I'm literally shook! This couple's story is everything! I mean, who wouldn't fall for a guy who shares your love for geeky things and can take epic train rides to quirky shops selling replica swords? 
Their bond started from a phone game about zombies and turned into a real-life love story. It's so beautiful! The fact that they found each other in the midst of isolation and loneliness just makes it more special.
I ship them so hard! What I think is even more inspiring is how they made it work despite being apart for long periods of time. Their love story is proof that true love can conquer all – or at least, distance 
& did u no he's got a heart o gold 
? yeah i know it sounds cheesy but seriously, our online gaming friendship turned into real life romance n it's literally the most beautiful thing ever 
. ppl think long distance relationships r all about the drama n stress but not 4 us! we made our own fun w/ video chats n dates 
. n now he's my hubby & i'm just over here living my best life 
like, how do we even process all da info and vids out dere?! 
. but heyz, love conquers all right? 
#datadump
. congrats on ur marriage! i'm hyped for u both! 
also, what's with all these random train rides out to shops selling replica swords and armor? is that just a made-up thing or is there actual evidence of that?
I mean, a zombie apocalypse phone game leads to real life romance? That's like me meeting my crush at a Pokémon cafe and we're still sipping on Pikachu lattes together 
. But for real though, who needs Tinder when you can just bond over your love of cosplay and fantasy novels? 
. Anyway, congrats to the happy couple! May their love be as strong as Craig's camera equipment and their adventures be filled with more replica swords than they can handle 
i mean who wouldn't want to find love through a zombie apocalypse game 
what i love about this couple's story is that it wasn't some grand gesture or fancy proposal, but just a genuine connection built on shared interests and laughter 
... and then became all about building their relationship on geeky things 
... and they ended up getting married in 2025, which is like totally awesome! 
... I mean don't get me wrong, it's cute that they got married in Melbourne and all, but let's be real, it's not like their relationship didn't have its ups and downs. I've seen plenty of couples who've been together for years and are still going strong - and none of them need a "spark" or a grand proposal to make it work 
. As someone who's all about tech and gadgets, I can appreciate the connection they made online and turned into real-life love 
. It sounds like there were some deeper emotions at play too. Like, the girl was going through a rough patch after two years of isolation, and Craig showed up with his kind heart and genuine smile? That's a pretty solid foundation for a relationship 
. And finally, getting married in March 2025? That's a pretty short timeline 
! And btw, did u know that 70% of millennials (people born between 1980 and 1996) have used dating apps or websites? 
.
!
! 
and now they're living happily ever after in melbourne 
. and now they're married with a whole Aussie adventure to explore together 