Summer of 2019, Joe was living in Long Island. Lea, living in Staten Island, threw a surprise party in a friend’s backyard for their mutual friend, Emanuel. Although they were aware of each other through social media, they didn’t meet yet. As Lea was planning the party she asked other party planners to invite some of Emmanuel’s friends she may not know. Joe was invited yet unsure if he was going to go. He was debating all day. Finally, something in him told him to attend. Later that evening, while the party is dying down Joe shows up. He looks over at Lea and Lea looks over at him. Without thought, before he leaves he walks up to Lea and hugs her. He says hello and good night to her. They both felt a spark that night. An unspeakable & indescribable feeling— they didn’t want it to die. The next day they spoke all day. Two and half years later, on December 13th, 2021, The two went back to the same backyard where they met each other for the first time. Lea thought it was to say hello to their friend. But that was the night Joe asked her to marry him. Back in the same place, they felt their spark— that never died💕