We were introduced by mutual friends while I was living in California and Evan was living in Memphis. My initial reaction upon meeting him was, "We live too far apart. This could never work!" I eventually moved back to Tennessee, and during the fall of 2017, Evan moved to Chattanooga for several months for a medical school rotation. One evening, as I was minding my own business at the local rock climbing gym, Evan walked up to me and said, "Ashley? Is that you?" We talked a bit that night and then kept running into each other all over the city of Chattanooga! Eventually, he asked for my number "for climbing purposes" and finally asked me out on a date. It took him a little bit of time, but I am eternally grateful he made those oh so "suave" moves in the beginning.

I convinced Evan to go to a Fireside Concert at Greenway Farms in Hixon, TN. We sat and talked while listening to the live folk music underneath the harvest moon. After the concert, he drove me home and we watched a movie at my apartment. When the movie was over, he asked if I would be his girlfriend! I was hesitant at first, since he would be moving back to Memphis in the coming months. But Evan was so intentional and clear about our relationship from Day 1, letting me know that he was willing and excited to undertake a long-distance relationship. So I decided to take a leap of faith and agreed to be his girlfriend that night and I am so glad that I did!