Originally written in Italian, translated by OpenAI.
Our story started on a warm night in July.
I had recently installed Slowly, and after receiving no replies from anyone, I decided to uninstall the app. But that day, it was as if destiny had decided to bring us together. Just like in a movie, moments before I was about to delete it, I received a notification: a letter from a certain Maryy_01.
Reading her words, it felt as if she were speaking directly to my soul; I saw so much of myself in her. Since we both viewed music as medicine for the soul, I decided to get to know her better by exchanging playlists of our favorite songs. Day after day, we grew closer. Within a week, we trusted each other enough to share secrets we had never told anyone. I discovered that Mary loves writing poetry, and she chose to let me read some, even though they are deeply personal. I also learned she loves to paint, and she dedicated a painting to me. Since I love making music, I decided to dedicate a song to her.
For a few months, we continued writing, and our beautiful bond grew deeper. While Mary was on vacation in Morocco, I realized I had fallen in love with her and decided to confess everything. Unfortunately, at that time, Mary didn’t feel ready for a relationship. We decided to keep our bond as it was, and over time, we moved from letters to WhatsApp, texting every day until late at night.
The day came for Mary to fly back to Italy. Since she had a ten-hour layover at the airport, I suggested we spend the whole night on Discord together so I could keep her company while we listened to music. That night was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever shared with someone. In the following months, we continued talking every day and watching movies and series together on Discord. Eventually, we decided to write real letters to send to each other’s homes, so we could have a physical memory of our bond—the symbol of which was, fittingly, a letter.
One night, when we couldn’t sleep, Mary said, “I’m craving pizza,” and I jokingly replied, “Do you want me to bring you one someday?” She said skeptically, “You’d never drive 40 minutes just to bring me pizza.” The fact is, a few days later, we met for the first time—and I really did make that 40-minute drive. The first time I saw her, I was struck by her immense beauty, which mirrored her equally beautiful soul. That day was wonderful because it felt like all those months of writing and building our relationship finally became real in that meeting. From that moment on, we started going out more often: we went for sushi, took walks, ate pizza together, or simply spent days listening to music.
As time passed, we began writing to each other more affectionately, using nicknames like “Stellina” (Little Star) or “Pelatone” (Big Baldy—though I’m not actually bald). One evening, the famous letter I wrote in August—the one where I confessed my love—came up in conversation. Mary revealed that she actually felt something back in August too, but she was afraid to tell me. I told her I had never stopped loving her and decided to confess my feelings once more. This time, I wasn’t rejected. Mary confessed she had feelings for me, even if she wasn’t quite ready to say “I love you” yet. In that moment, I was on cloud nine; even though I had already sensed her feelings through her words and gestures, reading them officially felt completely different.
Since that evening, the way we speak has changed completely because I no longer feel limited, and most importantly, I don’t have to hide my feelings anymore (even though it was obvious I was head over heels). Then came New Year’s Eve, where our feelings were so strong we could no longer keep them inside. At the stroke of midnight, we said “I love you” and kissed to welcome the new year.
Before closing this story, we would like to leave our own personal messages:
Arko:
Until six months ago, I never thought I would meet a girl as special as Mary. Every time I think about the day I met her, I see her as a “little star that fell from the sky, took refuge in my hands, and changed my life.” To me, she is truly unique; I’ve never known anyone with a heart as big and pure as hers. Day after day, letter after letter, I fell more in love because she was the first person to make me feel truly appreciated. She was the first to understand me, the first to truly look inside me, and the first person I could truly be myself with. Between July and August, we sent over 200 letters, not to mention the tens of thousands of messages on WhatsApp and Discord since September. I have loved every moment we’ve lived together—every night spent laughing like crazy, every movie we watched, every look, every caress, and every breath. Without Mary, my life would likely have stayed sad and my days gray and empty. With her, they are colorful and full of emotion—full of her and her sweetness.
Mary:
I met Arko during a period of my life when I was lost between the past and the present, when an unfillable void was tearing me apart. Thanks to him, that void is gone. I never imagined my heart would be capable of loving so deeply. Despite our completely different cultures, we understood each other instantly. I saw myself in so many things about him, and above all, he was the only one with whom I finally felt like myself, without the need to pretend or hide. He saw me for who I am; he loved my soul and my heart even before meeting me. I felt immediately that our bond wouldn’t break easily, and despite the obstacles and adversities we face every day, I know for sure that one day I will look into his eyes and say, “we made it,” because with him by my side, even the impossible seems possible. With him, time flies. It feels like our souls met long ago—in short, it feels like I’ve known him forever. Without him, life would be gray, colorless, and as monotonous as a day repeating endlessly.
Finally, I’d like to dedicate a few words to him (hoping he doesn’t get too emotional!): My love, you are everything to me. The only thing I think about at night is how lucky I am to have you. Every day I wonder what I did to deserve a boy so sweet, thoughtful, and affectionate—and above all, someone who loves me for who I am. I can’t even imagine a life without you, without your laughter, your clumsy way of trying to always be right, the way you look at me, your voice that I love so much, and your unique sweetness that won me over instantly. Without you, I wouldn’t have discovered what love is—the real kind that doesn’t make you tremble or doubt. Without you, my love, I would be the girl who is afraid of love; instead, now I am the one who fights for a future together, for a “forever” that I want to keep in my heart.
We both want to thank Slowly for bringing us together. Without this app, I never would have found the missing piece of my heart that I had been searching for. We hope this story can inspire someone else. If you are hesitant about whether or not to reply to a letter: do it, because it could change your life.
