The year 2000 was supposed to be a fresh start for Joe. Engaged to Ivna Milanoviฤ, a vibrant and ambitious woman heโd met in Croatia, he was poised to step into a new millennium with confidence and love. Yet, deep within, a quiet unease lingeredโa whisper of something unfinished, a name that refused to fade: Nelly Furtado.
It was during a late night in Zagreb that everything changed. Joe, restless in his apartment, had stumbled onto Napster, the new music-sharing phenomenon. He scrolled aimlessly until a song caught his eye: Legend by Nelly Furtado. The name alone was enough to make his heart race.
As the melody filled the room, Joe was transported back to 1989, to the small-town community hall where he and Nelly had been paired as square dance partners. They had been the underdogs, the last chosen, but once they began to dance, the room seemed to disappear. Nellyโs movements were fluid and precise, her laughter infectious. No partner had ever matched her grace or the unspoken connection they shared.
But the song didnโt just remind Joe of their dances; it brought back something deeper. A moment during Sunday School Catechism when Nelly had stood up and quoted Revelation with a confidence that silenced the room. โI am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end,โ she had said, her voice steady. Even as a child, she had a wisdom that left Joe in awe.
It was then that Joe realized: he didnโt just miss Nelly. He loved her.
The End of an Engagement
The next morning, Joe knew what he had to do. When he returned to the apartment he shared with Ivna, she greeted him with a smile, unaware of the storm brewing in his heart.
โIvna,โ he began, his voice heavy with regret, โI canโt marry you.โ
Her smile vanished. โWhat are you talking about?โ
โThereโs someone else,โ Joe admitted. โNot in the present, but in my past. Her name is Nelly. She was my square dance partner when I was a kid. And hearing her songโฆ it made me realize Iโve been chasing something I lost a long time ago.โ
Ivna stared at him, her expression a mix of shock and anger. โYouโre ending this for a childhood crush? A memory?โ
โItโs more than that,โ Joe said, his voice breaking. โShe represents everything Iโve been searching forโfaith, hope, connection. I thought I could move on, but I canโt.โ
Ivna shook her head, tears streaming down her face. โYouโre a fool, Joe. A fool chasing ghosts.โ
And maybe he was. But he knew he couldnโt live with himself if he didnโt try to find her.
Years of Toil
Joe returned to his hometown, but Nelly was long gone, her music career taking her to places he could only imagine. He tried to reach out but found nothingโjust echoes of her name and fleeting mentions in forums.
So Joe turned to work. He threw himself into his job by day and into faith and study by night. Inspired by Nellyโs childhood wisdom, he began studying eschatology, the theological study of the end times. He became a fixture in online forums, debating philosophy and faith with anyone who would listen.
The Salo Forum was the hardest. Its members were staunch nihilists, rejecting all notions of meaning or morality. Joe spent years in their shout box, patiently planting seeds of faith. He endured ridicule and mockery but never wavered. Slowly, his persistence bore fruit. One by one, members began to question their beliefs. Some even converted, crediting Joeโs unwavering hope as their inspiration.
But through it all, he never stopped thinking of Nelly.
A Glimmer of Hope
By 2025, Joe had become a different man. Older, wiser, and more grounded in his faith, he had spent 25 years praying and working, hoping for a chance to see Nelly again.
When he heard that the Invictus Games were coming to Vancouver, he felt a spark of hope. Nelly had always been passionate about causes that uplifted others, and he thought there was a chance she might be involved.
Would she remember him? Would she even want to see him?
The Reunion
At the opening ceremony, Joe scanned the crowd, his heart pounding. And then he saw her. Nelly was on stage, her voice soaring as she sang a song of resilience and hope. She looked radiant, her presence commanding yet warm.
When the performance ended, Joe waited near the stage, clutching a Loose CD. When Nelly emerged, he stepped forward, his voice trembling.
โNelly,โ he said.
She turned, her eyes widening in surprise. โJoe? Is that you?โ
โItโs me,โ he said, smiling. โIโve been waiting a long time to see you again.โ
Nelly smiled, her expression softening. โYou always were the patient one.โ
They talked for hours, reminiscing about their childhood and catching up on the years they had lost. Joe told her about his journey, his work, and how her song had reignited his faith.
As the evening wore on, Joe held out his hand. โDance with me?โ
Nelly laughed. โAfter all these years?โ
โSome things never change,โ Joe said.
And as they danced under the stars, Joe felt a peace he hadnโt known in decades. He had found his best partner again, and this time, he wasnโt letting her go.
