It all began with a simple DM. Carson slid into Aleiah’s messages not realizing that one small move would change the course of his life forever. What started as a lighthearted message grew into something neither of them could have predicted—eight years later, that same woman would become his wife. Their first date was at Yard House in downtown Cincinnati. Between laughter, conversation, and great food, sparks flew. From that night forward, their love only continued to grow. Life, however, had plans to test them. Carson soon moved to Florida for work, but instead of creating distance, it gave them a reason to look forward to new adventures every time they reunited. Each visit became a little Florida getaway of their own. But Florida was just the beginning. Carson was later transferred to Chicago, where the obstacle of distance continued. By then, Aleiah was studying at The Ohio State University, which meant long drives between Columbus and Chicago became their new normal. What could have been a challenge turned into cherished moments—from daily walks along High Street in Columbus to random adventures in Chicago’s suburbs. No matter where they were, the development of new memories never stopped. Then came COVID, changing the world for everyone. But for Carson and Aleiah, it brought an unexpected gift. With Carson’s job shifting remote, he temporarily moved to Columbus. For the first time in years, distance wasn’t a hurdle. They got to live side by side, savoring the little moments together that long-distance had made so rare. Not long after, the couple’s shared dream began taking shape. Since the early days of their relationship, they had always talked about living in North Carolina. Remote work finally opened the door. Carson moved to Charlotte to lay the foundation, and shortly after graduating from Ohio State, Aleiah joined him. And from there, the rest was history. What started with a DM turned into a lifetime of love, resilience, and adventures together—proving that no amount of distance, no matter how far, nothing could ever come between Carson and Aleiah.