The night I met her, I wasn’t even supposed to be there. I’d just finished a tough game, tired and sore, but something pulled me into that little café downtown. Then she walked in — smile brighter than the lights on the court — and everything changed forever that night. I said to myself that… [read more👇]

The night I met her, I wasn’t even supposed to be there. I’d just finished a tough game, tired and sore, but something pulled me into that little café downtown. Then she walked in — smile brighter than the lights on the court — and everything changed forever that night. I said to myself that if I let her walk away, I might never forgive myself.

She sat by the window, quietly stirring her coffee, lost in her thoughts. I remember hesitating for a moment, wondering if I should go over or just admire her from afar. But something inside whispered, “Go.” So I did. I walked up to her, nervous like it was my first game all over again, and said, “Hi, I’m Roy.” She looked up, smiled, and said, “I know who you are.”

That broke the ice instantly. We started talking — about life, about dreams, about the simple things that keep people grounded. She didn’t care about fame or basketball; she cared about who I was when the cameras were off. That night, I laughed more than I had in months. Her energy was peaceful, her words soft but deep, and her eyes… they told stories no book could ever hold.

When it was time to leave, I walked her to her car. The rain had just started falling, and before she left, she said, “Maybe the universe wanted you here tonight.” I didn’t argue — I knew she was right. From that moment, I stopped believing in coincidences.

That was the night everything began — the night I met the woman who would later become my best friend, my peace, and eventually… my wife.