We like to say it was destiny, not just a simple swipe right on Bumble. It was August 2023 when we first matched. We talked for two days, but true to Ale’s spontaneous nature, she decided to delete the app and focus on school. It wasn’t until December, after she finished a race, that she decided to open the app again and to her surprise, the first person she saw was Thomas. He later confessed he hacked the system… just kidding. Since that first date, we’ve felt like home to each other. It was as comfortable as if we had grown up together our entire lives, and it only took three months for us to not be able to be apart. First it was the toothbrush, then some socks, and as scary as it was, we decided to move in together. For Thomas, home, friends, technology, and video games were his passions. For Ale, triathlons, school, and books were all she could think about. We also share something that kept us talking for hours: the desire to learn and expand our knowledge. To learn something new every day, to talk about topics people often avoid, to disagree and challenge each other in deep conversations. In the things Thomas read online that he couldn’t always share with others, and in the many books Ale read, we found each other, building our own mental library, our own debates. Our days were full of laughter, races, tickles, trips, and sometimes tears. We learned to be vulnerable, unlearning and relearning. We kept the balance, supporting each other’s dreams to the point of being delusional. We have endured obstacles that most people face years into marriage. We faced pain, struggle, and grieving sooner than we wanted, but in those moments, we found our way back closer than ever, because home has always been in each other’s arms. That’s why, after a year and three months, we got engaged. Thomas planned the proposal in the new house we were moving into in Virginia. He said we would eat dinner on Friday near the new house to celebrate, and then go check the house before moving on Sunday. That’s when Ale opened the door to see petals leading upstairs where a beautiful setup was waiting. With tears and the big question, Ale said yes to a life together. We got married in an intimate ceremony with our close friends and family, but our story isn't complete without you. Now we can’t wait to celebrate our second wedding with all our loved ones in Ale’s home country, Colombia. We can’t wait to see you there, witness the union of our love, and celebrate with us. Thank you for being part of our story.