Steve Smith, Carmen Ruiz-Perez Reunite after 16 Yrs: Love Letter

by cyn.khoo | July 25, 2009 at 04:03 pm

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Steve Smith and Carmen Ruiz-Perez have reunited and married after losing each other 16 years ago.

The couple met and fell in love 17 years ago, when Ruiz-Perez was an exchange student from Spain in Brixham, England, becoming engaged one year later.

Smith and Ruiz-Perez ended their relationship when she moved away to run a shop in Paris.

Smith sent a love letter to her mother's home in Spain several years later, where it fell from the mantelpiece down behind the fireplace.

Ruiz-Perez found the letter only recently, when builders removed the fireplace for renovations.

She reported being almost too nervous to call Smith, but "knew [she] had to make the call".

When they were reunited, it was as if time had stood still, said Smith, a factory supervisor.
"When we met again it was like a film. We ran across the airport into each other's arms. We met up and fell in love all over again. Within 30 seconds of setting eyes on each other we were kissing.

"I'm just glad the letter did eventually end up where it was supposed to be," he said, after the couple married last Friday.