In the wake of unimaginable loss, Kaitlin Reagan and Mirko Mormile found solace in each other, forging an unlikely bond that blossomed into love. After the death of Francesco LoPresti, Reagan’s boyfriend and Mormile’s best friend, in 2022, the two leaned on each other to navigate their grief, sharing their journey on TikTok. What began as a shared need to heal has evolved into a relationship neither anticipated, marked by vulnerability, courage, and a belief that LoPresti would approve. Their story, shared exclusively in an interview on August 28, 2025, captures the complex interplay of loss, healing, and the surprising paths love can take.
A Shared Loss That Changed Everything
Francesco LoPresti was just 24 when he lost his battle with cancer in 2022, leaving behind Kaitlin Reagan, his 28-year-old girlfriend, and Mirko Mormile, his 26-year-old best friend. The two had been constants in LoPresti’s life, and his death left a void that drew Reagan and Mormile together in unexpected ways. “After Francesco passed away, I think everybody wanted to grieve by not talking about it,” Reagan says. “We’re the type of people who need to talk about it. We were grieving in the same way, and it was rare to find.” Their shared approach to mourning—open, raw, and unfiltered—set the foundation for a connection that would deepen over time.
Mormile echoes this sentiment, noting the weight of their loss. “I felt like this was going to destroy my whole life, and I couldn’t pretend it didn’t happen,” he says. “We didn’t have any other option but to heal through it.” Together, they turned to TikTok, where Reagan had previously documented LoPresti’s cancer journey, to share their grief, finding a community that understood their pain.
An Awkward Beginning
The road to their bond wasn’t always smooth. Reagan recalls their first meeting with a mix of humor and honesty. “The first time I met Mirko was when Francesco and I went on our first date,” she says. LoPresti, nervous about going alone, brought Mormile along to a Dunkin’ Donuts. “Francesco was like, ‘This is my friend,’ and I was like, ‘Why is he here?’ He didn’t look happy to be there, let’s put it that way.” Mormile admits to feeling jealous at the time, a teenager protective of his lifelong friend. “We were like 12 or 13 and all of a sudden, I couldn’t reach my friend anymore,” he says.
Despite the rocky start, LoPresti saw something special in both. He once urged Mormile to talk to Reagan after a breakup, insisting she was a good person worth knowing. “I didn’t want to, but she gave me a lot of good advice,” Mormile recalls. “I realized that this is a really good person who I didn’t really take the time to get to know.” That advice planted a seed, but it wasn’t until after LoPresti’s death that their connection truly began to grow.
A Bond Forged in Healing
In the months following LoPresti’s death, Reagan and Mormile found themselves spending more time together, united by their shared loss. “We spent a lot of time together on our healing journey,” Reagan explains. “It’s hard to show up for other people when you’re trying to show up for yourself, but we really cared to see each other do better.” Mormile encouraged Reagan to return to TikTok, where she and LoPresti had built a following. “He never wanted to be forgotten,” she says of her late boyfriend, whose memory they both strive to honor.
Their TikTok posts, raw and heartfelt, resonated with thousands, offering a glimpse into their grief and resilience. But as they leaned on each other, deeper feelings began to surface. Reagan remembers a pivotal moment: “In the process of being so cared about and taken care of so naturally, I was kind of like, ‘Oh God, I might like him and this is not good.’” She recalls LoPresti’s words about Mormile: “You just don’t know him. But there’s a reason I love him so much.” In that moment, she understood. Mormile, too, felt the stirrings of something more but kept it to himself. “There were a lot of times that we were together, and at the end of the night, I’d sit in my car and I’d be thinking, ‘Was she flirting with me there?’” he says. “But I just felt like my role was supposed to be to feel these things, but just kind of keep it to myself and not ever talk about it or not ever act on it.”
A Confession That Risked Everything
The turning point came when Reagan could no longer ignore her feelings. “I was like, ‘I don’t think I can walk away from this without saying I tried,’” she says. Her confession was a leap of faith, one that could have unraveled their friendship. Mormile, who had been quietly grappling with his own emotions, was relieved. “There’s a real possibility that if she never came to me and communicated, I might’ve just done that,” he admits. Their mutual vulnerability paved the way for a relationship that felt both new and deeply rooted in their shared history with LoPresti.
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The couple believes LoPresti would be pleased with their union. “The worst case is that he would hate us, but I think he’d be really happy,” Reagan says. “Before he passed, he told me, ‘I know it’s not going to be me, I wish it was, but I’m going to custom-make the person.’ I feel like he would be so happy to know that this person takes care of me, respects me and also respects him.” Mormile adds, “Everything we went through and conquered together, we’ve become very confident in the fact that if he is watching over us, if there is a heaven, he’d be happy.”
Looking Forward, Honoring the Past
Now, with their relationship public, Reagan and Mormile are focused on the future while keeping LoPresti’s memory alive. “We love talking about Francesco,” Reagan says. “And I think that’s the best-case scenario.” Their TikTok community has followed their journey, from grief to love, with many moved by their authenticity. Reagan is also channeling her energy into new projects, including her first live show on October 2 at City Winery, a milestone in her personal growth.
Their story is a testament to the unpredictable ways love can emerge from loss. By sharing their journey, Reagan and Mormile have not only found healing but also inspired others to embrace vulnerability. “We didn’t have any other option but to heal through it,” Mormile says, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, connection and hope can light the way forward.
