Woman rewatched her old Europe trip video—then noticed an eerie 11-year connection to her future husband
The world is round, and this woman's story is living proof that life often brings people back together in the most unexpected ways. What started as a random travel video for Athanasia Arkalis (@siaarkalis) turned out to be the beginning of her love story. Arkalis was stunned to discover that the Greek stranger she unknowingly filmed at an airport while travelling to Europe in 2014 would later become her husband after 11 years. The video, shared by the woman on TikTok, garnered thousands of views, with many people calling it magical and romantic.
Sharing the video of the incident, she wrote, "On August 31, 2014, I made this video, leaving my 3-month Europe trip, not knowing that 11 years later on the same day, I would marry the Greek stranger in the back of my video." At the time, Arkalis was 21 and wanted to travel the world. Greece was tied closely to her heritage, and the trip itself was a dream funded by multiple jobs in retail and hospitality, per PEOPLE. Years later, when she decided to revisit the old memories with her now-husband, Andreas, she realised that she had unknowingly filmed him. Arkalis shared that she had always known there was a possibility they had been on the same flight when travelling back to Australia.
Arkalis said, "When I watched that 2014 video with my boyfriend at the time, I didn't know I was about to see the man I'd eventually marry standing right there in the frame," according to the outlet. When Arkalis showed this clip to Andreas, he, too, was stunned and had an intense reaction. "He had goosebumps and was completely freaked out," she shared, adding that he was so overwhelmed that he left her house. The next day, he called her to tell her that he had shared this incident with his family and friends back in Greece, and all of them are equally shocked by the coincidence. However, their story began under a far less romantic setup.
During her trip, she befriended a man from her grandfather's hometown, who later moved to Melbourne. They'd spent time together as he was new to the city. That same friend later crossed paths with Andreas at a construction site. Sharing the same Greek roots and music, he insisted that Arkalis meet Andreas, suggesting they would vibe along. Eventually, she met him, and the three of them started spending time together. However, when they met, Arkalis was already in a long-term relationship. But when that relationship ended, she realised an instant shift. She said, "As soon as it was over, I felt this pull towards Andreas."
"It was like I suddenly knew he was the one," she said, as reported by the outlet. She further added, "I genuinely believe everyone's destiny is written." While addressing the users, who were a little sceptical about their story, she said, "With dating apps being how most people meet now, stories like this feel like something out of the movie." The post quickly gained traction, garnering thousands of reactions from viewers. "Invisible string theory is real! Have an amazing day today! Can’t wait to see the wedding pics," wrote @mindylivingthedream, while some requested a full storytime. "No, I’m crying," @dommerghz commented.
@kazbah1979 wished her, saying, "This is amazing! Wishing you both the best life together and all the best for your wedding today." "I didn't even know what 'invisible string theory' meant until I saw it on TikTok, and thats when I realised what exactly had happened to us." Arkalis said, "So many little things had to happen for us to meet eventually." The trip, which was initially planned for two months, extended to three, "If I hadn't extended that trip, if I hadn't filmed that video, if our friend hadn't connected us - none of this would exist," said Arkalis.
@siaarkalis Who is going to tell 21 year old me that it wasn’t my last time to talk to a Greek boy 😂🤍 Let’s go get married. #weddingtiktok #weddingday #invisiblestringtheory #invisiblestring ♬ original sound - athanasia arkalis 🫶
You can follow Athanasia Arkalis (@siaarkalis) on TikTok for more relationship content.
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