Allie and I met in 2015 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It wasn't by chance; a cousin of hers, who had met me at a summer gathering, recognized we were both the same age and attended the same school. She showed me a picture of Allie, and I was immediately interested. I had to leave the gathering before we could meet in person, but when Allie arrived, she was introduced to the idea of meeting me. Following our matchmaker's advice, Allie sent me a Facebook friend request, which I quickly accepted. I messaged her optimistically, "Maybe I'll see you around campus!" With 40,000 students on campus, our paths didn't cross until November of that school year, when I suggested we meet up. Our first meeting before final exams that semester was filled with endless conversation. Despite only meeting one another, we both felt a deep sense of familiarity and comfort in each other's presence. As we look back on this meeting over the years, we both recall feeling an inexplicable awareness of the significance of this encounter, as if we were embarking on a journey that would shape our lives forever. We began dating shortly after and continued throughout college. As time went on, Allie became my strongest supporter, and I couldn't imagine life without her. During the COVID pandemic, we decided to take a trip to Vermont to see the fall foliage. It was there, surrounded by the stunning autumn colors, that I got down on one knee and asked Allie to spend the rest of our lives together. As Allie finished graduate school, we lived together in Chicago, creating many fond memories while exploring the city. Once her schooling was complete, we took the leap we had long talked about and moved out west to Colorado. We fell in love with the mountains and the adventures they offered. Now, we happily reside in Denver, where we enjoy skiing, hiking, and exploring all that Colorado has to offer. Our journey, filled with love, adventure, and shared dreams, continues to unfold against the beautiful backdrop of the Rockies.