First love
Grace, 21, is a TV writer from Hertfordshire
“I still care about him deeply”
Alex was a gentleman from the moment we met. We were at a mutual friend’s gig for her birthday when, after singing Taylor Swift’s Love Story on stage with my mate, I sat down to find Alex next to me. We were inseparable for the rest of the night, dancing and laughing. When we headed outside into the cold, he gave me his jacket and gloves. That was Christmas 2014 – we were official by February.
We were at different universities and would text during classes, trying to crack each other up. We were young, but our relationship felt so grown up. One Valentine’s Day, we went to see the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, surrounded by octogenarians.
Alex was, and still is, a huge source of inspiration for me in my work. I recently wrote a TV comedy drama and the junior-doctor character is based on him (Alex is a medical student). The scenes I write are often inspired by conversations or jokes from our relationship – but I always run them by him. I really value our memories.
We were so good together and never argued, which made breaking up after 18 months in 2016 all the more sad. It was a logistical decision – I was going to the US to study at Princeton and Alex was staying at medical school in Sheffield. There was no huge falling out. Since then, I’ve had brief dalliances with a couple of people, but nothing significant. I still care about Alex deeply.
Even though we hadn’t seen each other for a year, meeting up with Alex again on the date didn’t feel strange. We chatted about his course and how well he’s doing – I’m so proud of him.
Each month, we send two former lovers on a date to see what happens