Maya and Ella met through mutual friends in London. Maya was recently divorced, and Ella had been living on her own for several years. They got along quickly, mostly over similar views on work, money, travel and the kind of life they wanted outside of relationships.

A couple of years into their friendship, rising rent and Ella’s upcoming move gave them an idea: why not try living together?

Three years later, they still do. They share a home and household expenses, divide everyday responsibilities and have adopted a cat together. Both continue to have their own social and personal lives, but home is something they’ve chosen to build together.

For Maya and Ella, it isn’t a romance or a temporary setup while they wait for partners. It’s a friendship they decided to make part of the structure of their lives.