The start of forever...

The Prequel We first met back in high school—just two awkward freshmen introduced through a messy web of mutual friends. Even back then, we clicked instantly. We bonded over the "big" small things: movies, favorite colors, and just trying to figure out life. We dated for seven months, falling fast and always pushing each other to be better. But, being young and dealt some tough hands by life, we eventually went our separate ways. It was devastating at the time, and though we tried to find that spark again over the next few years, the timing was always off. We’d grown into different people, and eventually, we just stopped trying. The "Wait, Is That You?" Moment Fast forward a year and a half later. I was working at a vape shop in Elko when he walked through the door. He’d just moved back from Gillette, and the second I looked up, my heart actually skipped a beat. (He told me later he felt totally "heartstruck" too.) It was that same high school awkwardness all over again, but somehow, we talked like not a single day had passed. When I finished ringing him up, I had this sudden, "now or never" urge to keep him there. So, I took a chance and invited him to my best friend’s birthday party. The Spark (Reignited) When we met up at the bar the following week, we were inseparable. We talked a storm, and that old spark didn’t just flicker—it blazed back to life. From that night on, we built a friendship that quickly turned into something much deeper. He was still that same wonderful guy I knew years ago, just a little more grown-up and "complex" in the best ways. Falling in love the second time didn't feel like a choice; it felt like a fairytale we were both finally ready for. The Present Looking back, I never thought life would give us a "take two," but I am so glad it did. He’s my person. He loves me for exactly who I am, and I’ve never loved anyone more. Our past might have been a bit of a winding road, but I wouldn't change it—it led us right back to each other. May our past lead us to a brighter future.