Love story: Holly Hunt-Kix and Brian Kix, Centereach

Holly Hunt-Kix and Brian Kix of Centereach were drawn to each other through their shared love of writing. Holly tells their story.

I first met Brian at a restaurant in Huntington Village in August 2006. We are both writers and found each other online through a social networking website.

Brian is a published novelist/poet. I am a playwright. Writing is a lonely pursuit, and we were both on the site looking for other writers.

He suggested we read each other's work, and two phone conversations later we agreed to meet over drinks. I was 30, and he was 31.

My first impression of Brian was that he was too tall for me. I'm 5-foot-4 and Brian is 6-foot-5! His first impression, I found out later, was that I was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

I gave him a play, and honestly I didn't consider seeing him again after that first meeting. Brian gave me his book, promising to autograph my copy once I read it. I didn't realize that he wanted an excuse to see me again.

The next evening, a friend of mine canceled on plans we had to see the Long Island Philharmonic together at Heckscher Park in Huntington, and, as much as I was OK with attending events alone, I asked Brian to join me.

That night started an amazing relationship. It wasn't as awkward as our first meeting, and we talked more about who we were.

After the concert, we ventured to Coindre Hall to walk around, and during our midnight visit there I tried to open the door to the Hall even though I knew it would be locked. It was the kind of thing I did often just to add excitement to my life and because I was also a bit of a rebel.

Upon finding out it wouldn't open, Brian said, "That will be the last door in your life to ever be locked." I didn't know what it meant, but I know now.

Eight months later we were engaged.

At our wedding on May 30, 2009, in Maui, Hawaii, I told the story about the locked door, and, looking into Brian's eyes, I concluded our vows with, "Not only have new doors been opened to my eyes, my body, my soul and my heart to things that I thought would be forever locked to me, but new doors have been opened to my life all because of you. And I know with you by my side there will be no more locked doors."