Imagine the worst first date ever, where everything goes wrong. My date with Gemma was a disaster from the start, but this comedic fiasco led me to one of the best decisions of my life.

It all began during my sophomore year of college. I was barely staying awake in psychology class when Gemma, a new student, sat next to me. We chatted, and although I wasn’t initially attracted to her, she was funny and cool.

One weekend, Gemma texted me to hang out after a group project. Unfortunately, I had MMA practice at the same time. I offered to skip it, and Gemma, enthusiastic about watching, came along.

Things took a turn when we started sparring. Despite my attempt to go easy, Gemma’s boxing skills surprised me. I ended up accidentally punching her in the face. Instead of being angry, Gemma laughed it off, leading to a memorable first date. We laughed about it and decided to meet again, this time with less fighting involved. And that’s how I fell for my future wife.