Brendan and I met in college, at the one and only SNHU. We knew of each other during our Freshman year, but really only crossed paths a couple of times. It wasn't until the Spring of our Sophomore year that our friend groups collided. I started to grow closer to Brendan and his friends, but I think they mostly knew me as the girl who brought leftover pizza to the pregame after a closing shift at Giovanni's. Fast-forward to the beginning of Junior year, where it all really began. Since Brendan and I had the same major, and we were later in our college careers, we had a majority of the same classes. We were seeing each other most days, and naturally started to get to know each other better. I wasn't interested in a relationship at the time, but something in my mind kept drawing me closer to him. He was incredibly kind, and always respectful, which is hard to find these days. Although contradicting the whole "I didn't want a relationship" thing, I decided to take a chance, and this is where one might say I started shooting my shot. We lived in the same building, so I would offer rides up from our business building, and if you don't know, SNHU was a VERY walkable campus. Between that, partnering together in classes and presentations, and inviting him to go out with me and my friends, I guess I wasn't very subtle. But I can't say I'm the only one, because Brendan just so happened to need a lot of help writing essays. Come to find out later on that he's a wordsmith, and didn't need my help whatsoever. He just wanted an excuse to sit around with me until 3am because I procrastinated writing my papers. We both knew the chemistry was there, but I think we were both too nervous to possibly ruin a great friendship we'd built. Well, Brendan mustered up the courage one night and brought up what was clear to everyone else. Instead of fighting it, we decided to give us a go, and I'm beyond grateful we did. Little did I know we were deciding to give us a go forever.

Meeting you was a brief moment in time that changed my life forever. I remember being a college sophomore looking for who my group was going to be in college. I was uncomfortable in my own skin and struggled ingratiating into already established social circles. My weekends early in college felt like speed dating friend groups with no success. I would go out and awkwardly try to find connection and be deterred by my failure. Everything changed when we made our way into Sunapee. Upon my first time entering Sunapee I remember scanning the room to gauge the environment but my eyes landed on you staring back at me. We held the look for a few seconds till Noah tapped me on my arm and pointed you out. I was already well aware of the beautiful girl who took notice of me, but even he saw it too. I was elated in that instant, but the night continued and my friends and I began establishing our spot in our new group. We all got along almost immediately. I did not have a sense of being judged, rather I found people that wanted everyone around them to have as much fun as they were having. I felt adopted by a family of my peers and that I was finally accepted. And at the top of it all was you. That was merely the beginning. Once my interest was piqued I started seeing you everywhere I was going. It took me too long to realize we had the same major and minor in school, but I assumed that was the reason for us crossing paths constantly along with our shared friend group. I was naive and filled with doubt, but as time passed the picture became clearer. I started asking you for rides to and from class and you always wanted me to join you. Eventually we had group projects assigned to us and we chose each other time and time again. There was one individual project that we both procrastinated. We sat down the night before the due date and began working on it together. I finished long before you did, but I knew there was no way I was leaving you to finish it alone. You had me up till 2 in the morning in the common room “helping” you with your paper. I always kept a strict cut off for late night work but I absolutely needed to make an exception there. When it was finally completed I remember going back to my room and reflecting on how effortless it was for us to overcome challenges and work together. We were seamless and I knew you were someone that I needed to pursue because it simply felt right. Fast forward a few years and we are not just overcoming challenges together, but building a life for each other. There is no one else I could envision myself going through life with. I will be by your side forever. I love you so dearly and can’t wait to take on all that life has in store for us together.