We always seemed to narrowly miss each other. Passing by in school hallways, joining some of the same activities, attending the same mission trip just a week apart, and even sharing mutual friends. Yet, it wasn’t until early 2023 that our paths finally crossed. I first noticed him when he started coming into Lazy Labrador, the coffee shop where I worked. It felt like all those near encounters had been leading us to the perfect moment when we were both ready. With a little help from a mutual connection—my friend knew his sister—I reached out to him, and the rest, as they say, is history.