Steven and I have known each other since we were eight years old when he moved in across the road from me. As soon as we hit our teens we became best friends and have been inseparable ever since.
When we were in our last few years of school all our friends would go on and on about us getting together and we would both laugh at the idea, but unbeknown to one another, we were both putting on an act.
Finally, after years and years of friendship we had our first kiss — at Steven’s parents’ house with CBBC’s Newsround on in the background! I was 17, he was 18. That was four years ago. We have been to university at separate ends of the country and have come through it stronger than ever.
On Friday October 14, 2005 I got home from work and it was cold and dark outside – but Steven thought it would be the perfect time for a walk around our local country park. So we bundled ourselves up and braved the cold weather. We started walking round the lakes and Steven stopped me in the middle of an empty field and hugged me. He then took my hand, knelt down in front of me and said "Leanne Elizabeth Sampson, will you marry me?" I was speechless (a very rare occurrence) and simply nodded then jumped on him in joy!
We went straight home to tell friends and family the good news and, the old romantic that he is even treated me and two of our best friends to fish and chips (we were still getting over being hard up students!) Everybody we told gave us the same response: "At last!" And of course everyone was over the moon. We have just had a brilliant party to celebrate our engagement with all our friends and family and have set Saturday May 19, 2007 as our wedding date.
Steven is my best friend and I can’t imagine life without him. He is my life; not just part of it. I can’t wait to marry him.
