Oh hey there Tinder, how have you been? I'm sure you're keeping pretty busy what with your 50 million users and all, but I'd like to take just a moment of your time.

I want to thank you for giving me the absolute best of times, and the absolute worst of times.

Let's start with the bad stuff.

Almost two years ago now, you matched me and him together. He initiated the conversation, telling me how beautiful I was and saying that it would be his honor to take me out on a date. He said all the right things, and he made me feel like the only girl in the world. I was so excited by the prospect of a date with him, I could hardly hide my anticipation.

The night arrived and I left the house glowing, but I returned destroyed. When we met up for our date, I knew deep down that something wasn't right. He did not sound nearly as eloquent in person as he did over Snapchat, which is pretty common, but it still took me aback. He started saying crass things to me, telling me what he had imagined doing with me and his plans for later in the evening. I told him that I wasn't that kind of girl, and his response was, "you're lying."

I was more than willing to exchange some kisses with him and end the night on that note, but as you could imagine, he would not be taking no for an answer.

The rest is still a blur, and as hard as I try to remember, my mind forces it all away, because our minds will protect us from the things we shouldn't know. I can see hands. I can hear screaming. I can see his beady eyes staring back at me. I can feel his entire body weight on top of me. I can feel a shortness of breath.

I was absolutely broken, and I knew that this would be the lowest point of my life so far.

But I also knew that if I let this destroy me, if I let this ruin my life, he would win. So, I picked myself up, I dusted myself off and I started sharing my message. So thank you, Tinder, for introducing me to him, because I am now strong, empowered and resilient, and I will never let what happened to me happen to the people I love if I can help it.

Now we're going to get sappy.

I didn't think I would ever be able to find someone that truly has everything, but you, Tinder, led me to my person. He makes me smile like no one else can, he makes me laugh until my lungs hurt, he challenges me to be the best version of myself and he shows me what loving someone and having them love you in return truly feels like. So, thank you Tinder, for giving me him.

I've learned so many things because of you Tinder, and although I would have preferred not to have gone through what I did, I found the silver lining. When I re-joined Tinder after the incident, people asked me, "are you scared?" and I replied, "I've already been through hell, what more is there to be scared of?"

So, go ahead and mock apps like Tinder and Bumble, but they are probably here to stay, and while they are around, why not let them teach you a thing or two? Who knows, maybe you could find what you've always been looking for.