Separated by nothing more than a wall, we were neighbors in our college dorm but managed to go the entire year without meeting. I remember the first time I met him, he was cool and confident with great energy. When we started speaking, I realized he was also incredibly kind, thoughtful and fun to be around. He says I was stunning from the start. He thought I was funny, intelligent and someone he just clicked with instantly. Our first date was a motorcycle ride out to Pacific City in 95-degree weather. I wore shorts (rookie mistake), and even though I ended up freezing going through the mountains, I couldn’t stop smiling. That day felt like a scene out of a movie. The sun, the road, the ocean and us. Shortly after, he asked me to be his girlfriend. No games, no waiting, just honesty and certainty. From day one, our connection felt easy and natural. We loved the same things, had the same goofy sense of humor, and could talk for hours. It didn’t take long to know this was something rare and real. Now, nearly nine years later, we’re engaged. We share a home, two motorcycles, and we’re planning forever together. What started as a chance meeting through a shared dorm wall has turned into the love of a lifetime.