CHAPTER 1 Alyssa and Kegan met their freshman year at Gordon College. Although he was a Biology major and she was studying English and Theatre, they both participated in the same honors program and immediately connected. At one of their program’s dinners, they wound up sitting next to each other and Kegan soon found himself having to instruct Alyssa in the art of eating a lobster, a feat she was not prepared for. They talked and laughed together, and he learned a little about her joy of trying new things and she found out how patient and caring he was – and that they both had a similar sense of humor! CHAPTER 2 Three years of friendship followed, and when senior year came around and Alyssa needed a male actor for her directing class, she immediately thought of Kegan. After the rehearsals ended, they continued hanging out. Homework sessions led to movie nights which led to Kegan asking if she wanted to make it official. It was an easy yes. After graduation and several long conversations, they committed to long-distance dating while she moved to New York and he moved back to New Hampshire. CHAPTER 3 Google duo, long bus-rides, and flexible work schedules helped make the year and a half more bearable. They connected over books and coffee shops (where she drank coffee and he drank water), seeing shows in New York, trying new recipes, and getting to know each other more deeply. CHAPTER 4 As they held many conversations discussing their post-graduate plans, her attending law school and him attending PA school, one thing became clear. They did not want to enter the future without each other. In July of 2023, Kegan orchestrated a beautiful proposal during one of the weeks Alyssa was up visiting him and his family. He took her to see one of her favorite shows and the first musical they had watched together, Newsies, but afterwards, started driving back a different route. She knew something was up when they pulled into their favorite state park even though it was pouring rain. He led her to a spot by the ocean, gave her the umbrella, and got down on one knee. It was another easy yes. EPILOGUE Leaving the park, their future was filled with plans for a romantic homemade dinner and celebration with family. However, the road had different plans. A flat tire compelled them to pull over and wait for a friendly AAA driver named Kevin to come to their rescue. During the unexpected interlude, they capitalized on their misfortune by using the time to call family and friends, and to process the events of the day together. Eventually, with a new tire, they made it home to the awaiting celebration!