N & D

The story of how we met feels like it belongs in a movie—or at least a rom-com we’d gladly binge together. It all started with a decision I almost didn’t make. I skipped going to a friend’s party that night just so I could meet him. There was something about him, even before we met in person, that gave me a reason to pause and take a leap. When I arrived at his apartment, I was nervous—truthfully, beyond nervous. But he must have known because he stepped outside with his dog, Pippa, to greet me. Pippa’s wagging tail and his kind smile immediately eased my anxiety. I didn’t just relax at that moment—I felt welcomed. I remember thinking to myself, "He’s even cuter than his profile photos. Am I dreaming?" That night, he cooked dinner for me—a meal so wonderful it almost made me forget the terrible action movie playing in the background. Almost. Truthfully, I could hardly focus on anything except his presence. I kept waiting for something to happen, wishing he'd take my hand. And then he did. One small gesture, and suddenly, cuddling with him felt like the most natural thing in the world. When the evening ended, I wasn’t sure if I’d see him again. Dating can be uncertain like that. But he kept messaging me, consistently kind and thoughtful in every interaction. I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, this one is really nice. I hope I see him again.” And see each other we did—again and again. There’s a lot I could pinpoint about why I fell for him, but there’s one moment that stands out. The first time I knew he was someone special—someone I could truly see myself with—was when I realized he had the same love for animals that I do. He showed me photos and told me stories of all the cats that he used to love growing up at his parent’s house. He said he wanted to have many pets in the future someday. I was smitten. From then on, we were practically inseparable. There was no slow phase for us—falling in love felt easy, like we had always been meant to find each other. We began talking every day and seeing each other regularly. With every shared meal, every laugh, and every late-night conversation, my certainty grew: he was my person. Over time, he introduced me to foods I never would have tried on my own and opened my eyes to the world of video games—a hobby I’d never considered before but quickly loved sharing with him. When I think back to those early months, what stands out most is the quiet peace of it all. Being with him always felt right, as though the universe had finally aligned. I treasured every second, from lazy evenings to more adventurous outings. Our first official "real date" was at The Yard. We both got dressed up—cuter than ever—and spent the meal feeling like the world outside didn’t even exist. Then came the moment that stays etched in my mind forever: sitting on my couch in my old apartment, he told me he loved me for the first time. I said it back, and the words felt perfect. Saying them didn’t feel rushed or uncertain—it felt like coming home. In his arms, I knew exactly where I was supposed to be. As I reflect on where it all began and where we are now, I can’t help but marvel at the journey we’ve taken. The shy girl who skipped a party to meet him could never have imagined finding, in him, her best friend, her partner, and the love of her life. But that’s exactly what happened. He showed me not just the joy of love but the beauty of feeling fully seen and cared for. Now, as we prepare to take this next step together, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement. I can’t wait to spend forever with him—my love, my teammate, my everything.

They say that love doesn't make you choose between passions—it makes room for all of them. For Nathaniel and me, love didn’t just mean making a life together; it meant building a family of the feline variety. When we first met, I already had an intense love for cats. Bella and Chloe, my two rescue cats, were my world, and any potential partner would have to understand. So, when Nathaniel entered my life, I knew right away that he was special when he loved them like his own cats. It didn't take long for us to adopt our first cat together—Daisy, our little love child. It all started when we dropped off donations at one of our favorite local rescues. Unbeknownst to us, this ordinary act of generosity would forever change our lives. There she was. Daisy—small and fluffy with the most beautiful eyes. We both froze. It was as if she had been waiting for us all along. I immediately messaged the rescue coordinator, my hands trembling with hope, and asked if she was available for adoption. The moment they said yes, my heart soared. But there was a slight problem. At that time, I wasn’t allowed to have another pet in my apartment. Without hesitation, Nathaniel offered a solution: “We’ll hide her at my place until you can bring her home.” I think that’s when I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was the one for me. That evening, we took Daisy to his apartment. Her first night with us was nothing short of magical. She curled up between us on the bed, purring softly, and it felt like she belonged there—as much part of our relationship as we were to each other. I often joke that Daisy wasn’t just our first adopted cat; she was our first child. You’d think we’d stop there, right? But no, not for us. Over time, our passion for rescuing cats grew. After we moved in together, cats were a regular part of our lives. We started fostering through Cali Cats Rescue, a wonderful nonprofit cat rescue. Through fostering, we helped over 20 cats find their forever families. But, as anyone who fosters will tell you, sometimes you fall in love along the way. That brings us to Violet—our second adoption. One afternoon, we attended an adoption event for the rescue, and there she was: a tiny ball of fur with the sweetest little face. When I held her, Violet fell asleep in my arms and stayed there until they went numb. Nathaniel took over and she slept peacefully in his arms for the rest of the event. By the end of the day, we both knew Violet wasn’t leaving with anyone else. She was ours. You’d think we’d stop there, right? At that point, we had four cats between us—Bella, Chloe, Daisy, and Violet. But life had other plans. Several months later, my mom arrived at our doorstep after a trip to Ohio, clutching a scruffy orange kitten with the most unusual little thumbs on his front paws. She had found him and thought we might be able to find him a home. However, this kitten had other ideas. With his adorable personality and his “lobster claw” paws, it didn’t take long for us to realize that Mr. Krabs was meant to stay. A month passed, and fostering brought yet another surprise. In a batch of four cuddly kittens, one truly stood out. A small and sweet black kitten, Oswald, seemed destined to stay with us. His gentle spirit captured our hearts, and once again, our home grew warmer, fluffier, and bigger. Today, our house is a cat amusement park. With shelves on the walls, kitty trees in every room, and more toys than any person could count, our seven pets—Bella, Chloe, Pippa, Daisy, Violet, Mr. Krabs, and Oswald—have created a home full of love. Together, we have cared for these animals, showing them all our love. Watching Nathaniel care for these animals has shown me the depth of his kindness and the strength of his love. There is never a dull moment with our little fur baby family. Some people dream of a house with a white picket fence; we dream of one filled with cats. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.