We both played on the same intramural soccer team during our senior year in college. I was a defender. Alaisha was the keeper. Because I was a rookie, I made a mistake that cost us the game. Being the reason that we lost was difficult for me and left me bitter toward myself. However, neither of us expected this mistake that ended our intramural season to start something new together. I apologized for my poor attitude, but the way she comforted me caused me to see her in a new light. Continued conversation only increased my desire to know her, and before I knew it, I started falling for her. And I have been falling ever since.

Looking back, I kinda always had my eye out on Atiyya, like a little crush that I wasn't even aware of early on. She let me into a glimpse of her life when she let me read her poetry, and man that's how she really started to peak my interest. We worked together at our college rec center 2 years prior to us dating. So we were already pretty good friends and were even better Beer Pong partners. Senior year we were on the same intramural flag football and soccer team, and this is where it really all started. Im obviously the goalkeeper in the game and she was my last line of defense. She goofs at the last second in a 0-0 tie, they score, and we lose the game that could've got us into playoffs. She had already been giving me rides home from the intramural fields, but after this game she was really hard on herself for thinking she cost us a win (when we all know it usually is the forwards fault for not holding it down with a goal!) But I sent her an encouragement text that night, we had lunch in the Student Union the next day, and talked on the phone for four hours later that week. The strong desire to get to know her deeper took off and we've been flying happily in love ever since.