Aleia & Derrick first met in 2016, during the golden years—before Covid, Trump, and TikTok took over our lives! Aleia had just moved to the DM(V) area, looking for a job, and her cousin Keischa suggested she reach out to her friend Derrick who she thought might be able to help her. When they met, Derrick noticed her right away, drawn to something unspoken between them. Like the gentleman he is, he asked her out, but Aleia politely declined. She thought Derrick was much older, and at that moment, she was only looking for help, not love. So they went their separate ways, exchanging only a polite goodbye and followed each other on social media. Months passed. They would run into each other in mutual circles, sharing laughs and moments here and there, nothing too serious. But something was growing beneath the surface, something neither of them could fully name yet. Derrick couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this connection, and one day, he asked again. This time, Aleia said yes. That "yes" marked the beginning of something neither of them could have predicted. In 2018, they made their relationship official, building a life together rooted in God, love, trust, and understanding. Through the highs and lows, they became each other’s home, sharing not just their lives but their families too. What started as a simple request for help turned into the love of a lifetime—something they both cherish deeply, knowing they were meant to find each other, even when they weren’t looking.