We're getting married!

It all started with a rose. But not just any rose, Ashley sent Shamari a virtual rose on a dating app. How else would an Army Infantry Officer and a Resident Physician ever cross paths? They were both skeptical; but hopeful. Their mutually busy schedules were an instant point of connection. They both valued their time and believed in their careers. They connected on a shared passion and desire to always give 100 percent. They set up a date for the following Monday. However on that Sunday afternoon, while Shamari was working on his motorcycle in his garage he had a thought: “Why am I here right now when I should be getting to know her?” The feeling must have been shared because even though Ashley had planned to eat spaghetti with her parents, they decided to meet after. When Ashley asked about the date on Monday, Shamari said if that night went well, they’d have a date on Monday too. With a few photos and a good gut feeling, they decided to meet at a Tapas restaurant in downtown Durham. On the anticipation-ridden walk to the restaurant Ashley and Shamari found themselves walking towards each other. However, Shamari was focused intently on his GPS. While Ashley figured, he would look up at some point. They continued to approach each other without meeting each other’s gaze. "Hi, I think you’re going the wrong way!” Ashley said in an excited voice. And as Shamari puts it, his heart stopped. Although initially surprised, Shamari’s gaze quickly softened. He turned about face and they’ve been walking side by side in life ever since.