A woman who kept her relationship with her childhood best friend a secret for more than two decades is now engaged to be married to him after waiting 24 years to share her first kiss with him…

Soon after their first encounter as teens in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1997, Kate MacNeil and Paul Damon became inseparable companions.

The young girl, who was 13 at the time, never had the courage to talk about how she felt, despite the fact that she was “crazy” with her closest friend.

The pair would talk on the phone for hours every day after school, and they would frequently end up falling asleep together.

Kate revealed that despite being in a “practically in a relationship” status, the two of them had never shared a kiss. “When we were both 18 years old, I took a chance and tried to kiss him, but he pulled away from me.

“I ran away feeling ashamed and shattered. The two of us eventually ceased talking with one another, but I never stopped thinking about him.”

They stopped communicating after Paul enlisted in the military and Kate moved to Alabama to attend college there.

Although Kate, a schoolteacher, and Paul, an accomplished carpenter, were both married at the time, they continued to communicate with one another online for many years.

The divorce was finalized in December of 2020, at which point the 38-year-old mother of two mustered the courage to make contact with Paul via Facebook.

“I’ve always liked him,” Kate reportedly stated to the SWNS news service.

“I got to a point in my life when I recognized that I needed to make contact with him to find out whether or not he shared my feelings,” she said.

After waiting two weeks to react, he finally did so, and after several hours of conversation, he finally agreed to go to Kate’s residence in Port Charlotte, Florida, in January 2021.

She said that “He messaged me saying, ‘Hey, stranger,’ and thereafter, we spoke for hours.”

Paul, who is 38 years old at this point, stated that there are no words to adequately describe her touch.

“During the time that we were apart, I cannot remember a single day in which I did not think about Kate.

It was impossible for anyone else to compete with her…

They soon admitted their feelings for one another, went on their first date in Florida, and shortly after that made the decision that Paul would move in with Kate, her children, and themselves.

Kate reported that their first kiss took place when he first arrived in Florida, and that she thought it was wonderful. “I now get the impression that my life is finished.”

Paul recalls how they have always been able to talk about anything, and how he “felt like an idiot” when he panicked when she tried to kiss him. The two friends have always been able to talk about everything.

“It seemed as though nothing had been altered at all. It’s wonderful.”

Kate said that she “took him up from the airport and kissed him goodbye.” After a wait of 24 years, this was our very first effort.

After spending a magical week with them, Paul boarded a plane and headed back to Williamsburg. After that period of time, he uprooted his life and moved to Florida.

Paul said: “We continue to be the best of friends. We are the perfect complement to one another.”

The two people are currently engaged, and the wedding is organized to take place in July of 2023.
Kate screamed that although their trip had taken them twenty-four years, she would not change a thing about it. “I never thought I’d see this day.”