Some love stories begin with a spark. Ours began in grade school. We met at St. Simon, running around with the same group of friends long before either of us understood what love really was. By eighth grade, we found ourselves “dating” in the sweetest, most innocent way, sharing our first kiss during The Legend of Zorro while our friends tossed gummy bears at us. Andy even told Melissa he loved her at just 13 years old, a moment we still smile about today. Life pulled us in different directions for a while. Melissa went to Chatard, Andy went to Cathedral, and though our circles occasionally crossed, we drifted into our own teenage worlds. Years passed. Careers began. Life unfolded. One summer night at the St. Simon Summer Fest almost twenty years after our middle-school romance, Melissa was there with Paige, a mutual friend and Andy’s childhood neighbor. They sent Andy a friendly selfie. He never responded, a detail Melissa will never let him forget. Months later, while scrolling through her photos, Melissa stumbled upon that picture and remembered the unanswered text. She followed up with a simple “Hey, what’s up?” and that second message changed everything. Andy saw the missed text, and sent a lengthy reply the next morning. Soon the messages turned into conversations, conversations turned into plans, and plans turned into a "first date" that felt both new and incredibly familiar. From the very beginning, there was an ease between us, like picking up a story we hadn’t realized was still being written. It didn’t take long before Melissa’s beloved dog, Gus, met Andy’s dachshunds, officially merging our little packs. From there, our life together has been full and beautiful: camper van trips near and far, motorcycle rides on sunny evenings, IU/Colts/Pacers games, cozy weekends at home, nights out with friends, kickball championships, three trips to Cabo within a year, and countless small moments that deepened our connection. Looking back now, we realize that all the twist and turns, years apart, and missed moments lead us back to each other. What began as a childhood crush grew into a friendship, faded into memory, and came back as something deeper, steadier, and unmistakably meant to be. And now, recounting the experiences we have had together, it is amazing how full and blessed our life together has been the past almost 4 years. We cannot wait to step into this next chapter, side by side, and for what the future holds for us, together.