We met for lunch, and I left his place six days later. That is the story of how a spontaneous Bumble date turned into an unforgettable short-term romance in Australia. I was strolling hand-in-hand down a beach with Seth, talking about our hopes and dreams for the future. It was the picture of romance, yet I had only met him the day before. And I was about to leave and never see him again.
Starting Over After Divorce
Several years earlier, I had ended my toxic marriage and slowly rebuilt a life I loved. Now divorced and free, I decided to finally make my decade-long dream of spending a year in Australia come true. Within two weeks, I bought a car, kitted it out to live in, and embarked on a solo 36,000-kilometre road trip. I was on this journey when I matched with Seth on Bumble in May 2023. After a few messages, we made plans for a lunch date.
An Instant Connection
I was instantly attracted to Seth when we met. He was just as good-looking in real life, if not better. After lunch, we went for a walk around the marina. We talked about my trip in Australia and about past relationships. He invited me back to his place for dinner and a home-cooked meal. I was hesitant as he was practically a stranger, but I decided to trust my gut. I told him I would need his full name and address to send to my friend, and he did not hesitate to give me the information – a massive green flag.
Although we kissed a lot and I stayed in his bed with him, we did not sleep together that first night. I did not feel ready. Seth listened and completely respected my boundaries, which only made me want him more. He made me feel safe and relaxed, which made the experience so much better for me when we were intimate the next day.
Living Together as a Couple
Later that afternoon, we went to another beach and walked along the shore, holding hands. We had agreed I would stay another night and leave on Monday morning, but I realised I did not want to leave. I did not have any other plans, but was worried I would overstay my welcome. 'Should I leave or should I stay another night?' I asked. He told me, 'If you want to stay, I want you to stay.' So, I did. We had this conversation every night until I finally confirmed plans with a friend in Gold Coast in a few days' time.
In the meantime, we lived together as a couple. He went to work during the day, and I hung out at his house with his dog. I did our laundry, and he cooked dinner. We would cuddle up on the couch in the evenings, watching Netflix and eating ice cream. It felt completely natural. We talked about how easy it was to be together, and he even jokingly referred to me as his 'house spouse' once.
A Healing Experience
Seth proved to me that there are some truly good men in the world and showed me what a normal, healthy relationship could actually be. Because Seth and I were always going to be a short-term fling, there was no drama around figuring out what our relationship status was. Instead, we were both happy to simply enjoy our time together.
On my last day, Seth left for work very early in the morning, so I was half asleep for our in-person goodbye. It was sweet, and we hugged and kissed before I went back to sleep. When I left a few hours later, I sent him a selfie outside his house, thanking him for everything. He told me I was a beautiful person and to travel safe.
Moving On
Seth healed me in some ways and made me emotionally prepared for future long-term relationships. We messaged for a bit after I left – he sent a sweet 'good morning' text the next day – and I gave him an open invite to come join me on my travels, but he never did. I was not really disappointed; I did not actually expect him to.
We are still connected on socials – Seth is a fairly regular viewer on my Instagram stories – and have sent some flirty messages over the years, reminiscing on some of our sexier moments together. But I do not think I will ever see him again, and I am fine with that.
The Meaning of Short-Term Relationships
Relationships are often measured by duration – relationships that last or end in marriage are seen as successful. But a relationship can still be meaningful and important, even if it is short-term. My time with Seth taught me a lot, and I am grateful we spent those six days together.
