### Facebook Love

**1. The Unexpected Friend Request**

Maya was keeping up with her friends' most recent updates on Facebook, her thumb moving steadily as she scrolled through her feed. She had formed the same old routine as a means of passing the time between work-related emails and her sporadic breaks. But today, she noticed something. She received a friend request from an unfamiliar person. The profile photo featured a man with a wide smile, his hair disheveled by the wind, as he stood in front of a mountain range.

The name was Samir.

Maya paused for a brief instant. In particular, she had been wary of accepting friend requests from total strangers. However, there was something sincere and almost recognizable about Samir's smile. Overwhelmed by curiosity, she clicked on his profile. Strangely, they had no mutual friends. She was still curious, though. She granted the request in defiance of her better judgment.

**2. Messages and Memories**

A short while later, she received a note in her inbox.

*Samir Hello! I appreciate you granting my request. *Remember me?

Bewildered, Maya gazed at the message. Was this a someone from her school days? A distant relative, perhaps? She made the decision to inquire.

*Maya: Hello, Samir. I apologize, but I don't believe I recall you. Have we previously met?*

*Samir: In a way, yes. We attended the same secondary school. But I'm very sure you don't remember me. I was the class's quiet guy at the back.

Maya's head was swimming with high school recollections. Though then again, she hadn't exactly been gregarious then. She couldn't remember knowing anyone named Samir. His name did, however, seem familiar.

*Maya: Whoa! You bring it up, and I believe I recall. How are you doing?*

The talk proceeded organically after that. Samir shared with her his trips, graphic design work, and passion for photography. Maya saw that she was becoming more open about her personal life, including her work as a marketing analyst, her love of writing, and the book she was now reading.

Weeks passed into days, and before long, Maya's days were routinely filled with their messages. Her heart was racing every time her phone lit up with a notification, and she discovered that she was looking forward to their discussions. Speaking with Samir was effortless and reassuring because he laughed at her jokes and had similar interests to her.

**3. The First Video Call**

Samir proposed a video call on a soggy Sunday afternoon.

Hey, I was thinking, *Samir* said. How about making a video call? Don't you think it would be good to see each other in person?*

Maya felt her heart skip a beat. Though she was so accustomed to their correspondence in writing, the thought of really seeing him, the face behind those words, was equally exciting and unsettling.

*Maya: Certainly, why not? Please wait while I adjust my hair.

She ran to the mirror, putting on a fast lipstick swipe and brush through her hair. Her anticipation-filled face and nervously sparkling eyes were reflected in her reflection. She inhaled deeply before pressing the call button.

There he was, as the screen wavered. In person, Samir's smile was even more contagious. As he greeted her, the corners of his eyes wrinkled.

"Hey, Maya!"

"Hi Samir! IIt's great to finally see you."

For hours, they conversed about everything and nothing. As they laughed and told stories, the sound of the rain outside provided a calming atmosphere. Maya noticed that her initial anxiousness was vanishing as she began to relax. They appeared to have known one another for a very long time.

**4. A Growing Connection**

They started having video calls more frequently as the weeks went by. Samir shared his screen with them while they watched romantic comedies and discussed how thriller endings should be written. They traded recommendations for books, each attempting to wow the other with unusual titles and underappreciated gems.

For the first time in a long time, Maya felt a connection. There was more to it than the quotidian communications or the common hobbies. It was the way Samir made her feel—appreciated, comprehensible, and loved. His words were genuine and endearing, and they gave her hope that something could actually be happening.

Samir paused one evening as they were bidding each other good night. Maya observed the change in his voice and the way his eyes appeared to be trying to find the perfect words.

"Maya, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Samir?"

"I think... I think I'm falling in love with you."

Maya was caught off guard by the confession that lingered in the air. Her mind was a disarray of feelings, and her heart was racing. Although she had sensed their increasing closeness and felt the same way, seeing it said out gave it a palpable and real quality.

"Samir, I... I think I feel the same way."

**5. The Gathering**

Everything changed after that. Their discussions developed a new level of intimacy and depth. They discussed their concerns and uncertainties, as well as their goals and dreams. Together, they imagined a life full of love and joy as they planned their future.

They quickly made the decision to have a face-to-face meeting. Samir recommended a tiny café in the city that he was positive Maya would adore.

Maya was quite tense on the day of the encounter. She was quite particular about what to wear, and as she put on cosmetics, her hands were shaking. She was thinking of all the possible things as she walked to the café.

Samir was standing close to the door with his back to her when she noticed him before he did. She inhaled deeply and approached him, her heart racing.

"Samir?"

He turned and spotted her, his eyes brightening. "Maya!"

They remained motionless for a brief period, absorbing the truth of one another, the result of weeks of discussions and admissions. Then, without another word, they were embracing, their warmth dispelling any last uncertainties or anxieties.

**6. A New Beginning**

Even though there was a lot of activity and the sound of clinking cups around the café, Maya and Samir felt as though they were alone. Hour after hour, their laughing filled the space between them while their hands sporadically brushed.

Taking Maya's hand as the evening was coming to an end, Samir made eye contact with her.

"Meeting you, Maya, has been the greatest thing that has ever occurred to me. Without you, I don't know how I would live."

Maya grinned, her heart brimming. "Samir, I feel the same way. This is us, isn't that right?"

He said, "Yes, it is," and leaned in to give her a kiss.

Maya came to the realization that love might occasionally be discovered in the most unlikely places, including on Facebook, as their lips touched. And sometimes, all you needed to complete your existence was that love.