Dear Marielle, Although it’s tough to admit, I believe you when you say you didn’t know me in middle school, but I definitely knew you. We were in different circles and I was shy around cute girls, which probably explains why you didn’t know me. By high school, there was no avoiding you. Summer band camp led to a friendship and a crush—I remember trying to get your attention so much you’d sometimes get annoyed. Freshman year, I even found excuses to take pictures with you, asking for “different angles” so I could hug you just a little bit longer. I loved any opportunity to spend time with you, even if it was in a group setting. When you started dating someone else though, I let it affect our friendship and we drifted apart for two years. Senior year, we had a class together and I found myself teasing and flirting with you again, lowkey hoping you’d become single. When that day came, we instantly reconnected and I knew I wanted more than just a friendship, even after two years. The summer of 2019 became our most memorable summer. We went on so many spontaneous adventures like driving up to Turner Falls in your yellow Jeep, having a beach day at Little Elm Beach, kayaking, playing tennis... and it didn't take long for us to become best friends. One night while stargazing in Adriatica, we laid on our backs at the top of the hill and I asked, “If we see a shooting star, will you date me?” You laughed and said yes, clearly not expecting it to happen. But just a few minutes later, a shooting star shot across the sky. We didn’t start dating right away, but I like to think it was God’s way of hinting at what was meant to be. My favorite “adventure” was the movie "US", which I secretly treated as our first date. I arrived dressed to impress with my best cologne, playing John Mayer’s "Love on the Weekend" (obviously), only to find you in sweats and a T-shirt (though you still looked amazing). I spent the movie trying to hold your hand, but I left empty-handed. Despite that, my feelings for you grew. We spent every Tuesday night at The Porch with our best friends followed by grabbing Torchy’s tacos and a queso to split. And during the second half of the summer, we had several long, deep conversations about where our relationship was heading at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge downtown. You were hesitant about long distance—I was moving over 600 miles away to go to Stanford (just kidding, Samford) and you'd recently gotten out of a tough relationship. I remember after one particularly difficult conversation, I was so heartbroken that I went to a local park to play basketball and found myself bawling, and not actually balling. Thankfully, you saw what we had was worth the effort, and soon after, I asked you to be my girlfriend on a Tuesday right before The Porch with a letter, a dozen red roses, and a backup park when the rooftop I’d planned was locked. We faced many challenges throughout those four years, but the distance did make our love grow fonder. I loved when you’d come to visit and spend time getting to know all my college friends. You got to experience all the Samford traditions and Birmingham classics, like Cookie Fix, Freshens, Step Sing, Red Pearl, Railroad Park, Cookout, and Lakeshore Trail. Those years taught us patience, commitment, and how strong we are as a couple. Almost five years later, I asked you to be my wife at the same rooftop park I wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend, but this time it wasn’t closed. I can’t believe we’re about to get married and I can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned with you by my side. You are my greatest joy, my best friend, my constant laughter, and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. While I sometimes feel anxious about how quickly time passes, I’m comforted knowing I get to spend every precious moment with you. I love you forever! Love, Ben