I met Laura for the first time in the smoking area at Corsica Studios, London at a Make Me night in 2018.

Laura+Tom, Make Me, Corsica Studios

I came out to get some air, she was talking to some friends of mine, we started chatting and, after impressing her with my knowledge of niche Belgian horror films (she's from Brussels), we headed to the dancefloor. We've been together ever since, including several amazing nights back at Corsica.

After a couple of months of dating we realised that both of us had ended up at the club that night through a series of coincidences and serendipitous near misses. I had a lot of work on that weekend and had to be convinced by my friends to go out... to be honest if it had been any other club they probably wouldn't have persuaded me. I'm glad they did.

The soundsystem, the people and the incredible quality of music I've seen and danced to at Corsica Studios over the years meant it was already my favourite club in London, even before I met the girl of my dreams there. Since then, it's gone from being my favourite club in London to one of the most important places I'll ever visit in my life. I can't wait to get back as soon as I can, we've been deprived of the music and the memories for far too long now.

I met Tom at Corsica Studios on Friday 12th of October 2018.

After what might have been the most stressful Friday I've ever had at work, I needed to forget about it all. A rave sounded perfect for that.

Pre-drinks were... interesting. It was my friends birthday but we didn't actually know which club we were going to go to. My housemate was suggesting lots of options of places to go- including Corsica Studios- but a couple of friends were broke and they didn't want to travel too far from our house in North West London. It seemed like there was no solution to our problems.

There was some tension in the air because we weren't able to make a decision however we ended up choosing Corsica Studios because my housemate told us that the quality of music there was always amazing, and he was right. We decided to all chip in so our broke friends could join.

Once inside the club, we were so happy to have finally made it out! We knew we'd made the right choice of venue... the music was incredible and we were all having a really good time on the dancefloor.

I went to the smoking area for a cigarette and I saw my housemate talking to a group a strangers. I joined the conversation and quickly started talking to Tom who told to me about some Belgian cinema and of Belgium's colonial past. Most people here in England don't know much about Belgium, so I was impressed!

We headed to the dancefloor and had our first kiss there. At the end of the night we exchanged numbers, parted company and went to our respective homes.

I had a big smile on my face all the way back to North West London. I know I'm going to sound cheesy, but I knew this was going to be much more than a hookup. I was right.

When I think about all the random elements that led me to Corsica Studios that night, I feel extremely lucky that all the stars were aligned. I could have gone out on the Saturday instead, I could have gone to a different club, I could have decided to not go out at all, or left the club earlier with one housemate who had to go home...

I am even grateful for having been a smoker. If I hadn't gone for that cigarette, I might have never met Tom.

I have since quit smoking.