Michael and I started dating a couple of weeks later, and within a few months, we got serious. One promise I had made was if I ever was so lucky to find love, I would be completely honest with him. I told him about my sexual past and he accepted me unconditionally without judgment. He taught me what love was supposed to be-being there for each other through thick and thin, working through the rough patches to make us stronger, and sharing moments we would always hold onto. Still, we took our time to become intimate because we knew that a solid foundation meant we had to be connected in every way, not just physically. I’m not saying we didn’t test those boundaries. We were really attracted to one another, but we held off on having intercourse. We got tested after three months of dating, and again after six months. Both times, we came back negative for everything, and at that point, we were ready.
