Before we ever met, our lives had already crossed paths in ways we didn’t even realize. Abel and I met when I was 19 and he was 20. Like many modern love stories, it all started online when he messaged me on Facebook. When I first saw his profile picture, he was holding a Louis Vuitton bag and my first thought was, “Wow… he definitely knew what he was doing” What caught my attention was how many mutual friends we shared, yet somehow we had never met before. Abel kept messaging me consistently, and although I wasn’t necessarily looking for a relationship at the time, I appreciated his persistence. He would ask about my day and check in often, and from the very beginning our conversations felt effortless. Nothing ever felt forced. It simply flowed. From early on, he showed how thoughtful he was. During the first year and a half of our relationship, when I didn’t have a car, Abel made sure I always got to work and home safely without hesitation. Looking back now, it was one of the many small ways he quietly showed how much he cared. The first time we spoke on the phone, we talked until six in the morning, even though he had work the next day. I remember thinking we had talked so much that night we might run out of things to say the next time we spoke. Somehow, years later, we’re still talking. Our first date definitely made an impression. Abel showed up with flowers, makeup, and a teddy bear before taking me to dinner at Moctezuma’s in Southcenter. The night ended with a ride on the Ferris wheel. Abel says he remembers feeling butterflies and a happiness he couldn’t quite explain. Since we had already spent a few weeks getting to know each other, by the end of that night he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. Seven years later, we share our home, our dog, and a life we’ve built together. One of the most special parts of our story is realizing how closely our lives had always been connected without us knowing it. We grew up only five miles apart, yet somehow never crossed paths. Our families and friends had unknowingly moved through the same circles for years. Cousins were neighbors, childhood homes were shared gathering places, and familiar faces appeared in stories long before we ever met. Even our families had crossed paths. My mom once sold strawberries to Abel’s aunt, and years later when she sold piñatas, Abel’s mom still had an old photo of them breaking one at a birthday party. Looking back now, it almost feels like our lives had been quietly weaving together long before we ever met. Our relationship deepened during COVID, when the world slowed down and we suddenly had so much time to simply enjoy being together. Those days were filled with Alki drives, midnight snacks, hiking adventures, paddle boarding, camping trips, board games, and casino nights at home. Some of our favorite memories came from those simple moments. One of the most meaningful moments of our relationship was when I was able to accompany Abel on his first trip back to Mexico after seventeen years. Our families in Sinaloa lived only forty-five minutes apart, which made the experience even more special. During that trip, Abel made the moment unforgettable by proposing in Topolobampo, Los Mochis, Sinaloa. Looking back now, it feels like every shared place, familiar face, and quiet coincidence was gently guiding us toward each other all along. Together.