On October 27, 1998, Kirsten C. Uszkalo and Darren James Harkness met for their very first date. For the first time ever, Darren has recorded the Origin Myth - the story of their beginnings. This is his present to her on their third anniversary.


The lives of Kirsten and Darren were destined to intertwine.

Kirsten was a postgraduate student at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby BC, studying Medieval/Renaissance English. Darren was an undergraduate at University of British Columbia, taking Canadian studies.

One night, while Darren was sitting alone in his room at the university, he received a call from his friend Natalie. Natalie was coming into town to take her sister to dinner, and wondered if he would like to come along.

Darren had already eaten, but decided that since his friend was coming from out of town, it would be nothing short of rude to not spend time with his friend. Eventually, she made her way to the campus, and Darren ran downstairs and jumped into the car.

Kirsten was already in the front seat but, because he was in the back seat, he couldn't get a good look at her. As they drove to the Mongolie Grill in Vancouver, Kirsten and Darren bantered happily: she, asking him to fetch CDs from the back seat; he, happily searching for said CDs in the back seat.

When they reached the restaurant, Darren finally got to see Kirsten for the first time. Immediately, he was smitten. He followed her into the restaurant, and started showing her the intracacies of eating at the Mongolie.

He'd never found it so easy to talk to anyone in his life. Kirsten made him feel more comfortable than he'd ever felt. They talked and talked and talked throughout the evening about English, school, politics... for the first time in his life, he felt comfortable around a woman. Halfway through the evening, the thought struck him. "I'm going to date this woman." A couple of times, Natalie tried to steer Darren away from his conversation with Kirsten, but he'd have nothing of it. He always managed to avoid the ruse, and continue talking to Kirsten.

Alas, the evening had to end as all evenings do, and Kirsten, Darren and Natalie started to leave the restaurant. As they walked out the door, Natalie disappeared on the phone to her boyfriend and the young couple was left to talk once again. It was a chilly September night; Darren offered his jacket to Kirsten to keep her warm.

Again, they talked naturally and comfortably to one another. Darren was become more and more interested in Kirsten, but didn't quite have the courage to say so. Eventually, Natalie returned and they made their way back to UBC.

All night, Darren waited for Natalie to get home. When she finally did he mentioned that he'd had a great time, and that if his number were to make its way into Kirsten's hands, he wouldn't be the least bit upset.

The next day, Kirsten asked Natalie if Darren had said anything about her. The message was passed along, "No, he hasn't. But just wait until you meet my other friend, Alan."

Three weeks passed; Darren had continued his sheltered life at UBC, and had assumed Kirsten wasn't interested. Likewise, Kirsten thought Darren hadn't been interested, and had carried on her life at SFU. One fateful night, however, Natalie again crossed her doorstep. This time, she had planned to introduce Kirsten to her friend Alan. They went out for coffee and dessert, then converged back at Natalie's boyfriend Alex's apartment. Alan was as Alan is, and studiously examined Alex's bookshelves. Natalie, sensing Kirsten's boredom, showed her IRC, and dropped her into the channel Darren, Alan and Natalie began.

Darren was spending his night as he spent many nights - talking with his friends on IRC. He noticed out of the corner of his eye someone on Alex's computer joining up with the name "red". He knew it wasn't Alex; he knew it wasn't Natalie; he took a good guess that it was Kirsten.

His heart jumped.

He immediately messaged her and asked how she'd been. Again, they started talking freely until finally she asked:

"If i was to give you my phone number, would the UBC Internet Nazis get it?"

He answered swiftly, saying, "No, but here's my number so you don't have to take the risk."

They exchanged phone numbers, and Darren was to call to set up their first date. He had already committed to being on Vancouver Island for the Thanksgiving Day weekend with Natalie and his other friends, but promised to call as soon as he got back.


All weekend he thought of her, and what to do for their first date. Darren was not a social star, but had an idea of what a good first date might be like.

On that weekend, he met Kirsten's mother; she was in the area and had dropped by to visit Natalie, who was out at the time. Darren, Alan and Dana introduced themselves to her and entertained her for awhile. During this brief visit, Kirsten's mom asked Darren if he'd met her daughter Kirsten yet and mentioned that they might get along well. He said with a grin,"Yes, I just met her the other day... I think she's great!"

The end of the weekend came, and the group travelled back to their homes. When the convoy reached Darren's home at UBC, he jumped out of the car and immediately called Kirsten up. They again talked for a long time and finally set up their first date. Kirsten didn't like driving in Vancouver, so asked that Darren choose a place that was easy for her to find. Darren chose the South Hill Sweet Shop, a cozy little coffeeshop he knew on Main street that was easy to find.

And so he waited...


Then it came. The day of Kirsten and Darren's first date.

Darren had a plan. It was a good plan, solidly thought out and gauranteed to work. He planned to get to South Hill early and be there reading and looking sauve and intelligent when Kirsten walked through the door.

He didn't factor in the reliability of BC Transit.

In actuality, Darren ran from the bus stop on Main to the front door of South Hill Sweet Shop, and opened the door.

Kirsten was already there, sipping her coffee and reading a book.

God, she was beautiful. She personified the leaves of autumn; the colours of the sunset; all Darren found beautiful in the world she carried with her beauty.

He sat down, and asked if he could buy her coffee. She already had one, so he asked if he could buy her another.

They talked for what seemed like hours. Darren opened up to Kirsten immediately and talked freely about himself and his life; he'd never been comfortable enough with anyone to do that before. He likely talked far too much about himself, something he never seemed to do under normal circumstances.

After an hour or so, Kirsten told Darren she wanted to head to Chapters to buy a book of literary terms and a book of quotations. So off they went. The couple snuck in just before closing time and spent a little while sitting on the floor in the reference aisle, comparing different books of quotations.

After awhile, they found what she had wanted, and headed back to UBC. Darren wasn't ready to end the date quite yet, and searched his brain frantically for ways to spend more time with her. When they got to UBC, he suggested a spectacular tour of UBC at night.

They walked around campus, Darren showing her such fabulous sights as the back of the library, the steam works and the streetlamps... and the echo sculpture near the library... but alas, eventually had to bring her back to his residence and end the date.

They'd had a great time. Darren had never met anyone he'd felt so comfortable around. They said their goodbyes, promised to call one another, and...

and...

...she pounced.

Perhaps pounce is the wrong word... she gave him an enthusiastic hug as she headed back to her car, and he felt so wonderful while it was happening that it felt as though she'd completely enveloped him.

And that, my friends, is the beginning. Every day, every week, every month since then has grown happier. Darren loves Kirsten with all his heart and all his soul. She possesses him in a way that isn't possible for a mortal.

Their love has survived hardship and loss, but has never given in. The love Darren feels for Kirsten is bright, pure, white light.

Note:There will be more entries in this saga.. they'll show up as Kirsten and Darren decide to add them in.


Kirsten --

Thank you for sharing the last three years of your life with me.

You remain a constant source of awe and inspiration; you have an inner power that intoxicates me with its glow, and fills me with warmth and tenderness. Your intellect, knowledge and creativity truly have no bounds as the days collect; you continually impress me through your achievements.

Over the last three years we have experienced everything together. I've loved you stronger and more pure than either of use ever could have imagined. I can not fathom a world without you in it. You mean everything to me.

I don't tell you nearly often enough truly how much you mean to me, and how strongly you affect and influence my life. The person I am today owes a great debt. You brought me out of the shadows, and showed me a whole new world. Today is a truly great day. Every day with you is.

You hold my heart in your hands; will you care for it forever?