They say there are plenty of fish in the sea. So naturally, that seemed like the best place to start. You could say we took that saying somewhat literally — our story began in the deep sea of internet dating, on a site called Plenty of Fish. What started with online chats quickly turned into late-night phone calls — and even those never seemed to be enough. A disastrous ending to a first date would unexpectedly open the gates, that led to the steps of accountability and communication — a recurring and crucial theme in our story. Over the next two years, we found ourselves reluctantly climbing those steps — drawn in by curiosity, captivated by connection, and unable to walk away. As our third year gave way to the fourth, our story reached a climax. The future, once distant, began to take shape — and with it came a choice: take the easy road, which promised immediate relief but an incomplete future, or take the hard road — the one that meant confronting the past and its traumas. One of us made the hard choice for both — walking away from the love of a lifetime. The other, instead of wallowing, chose to grow. To blossom. To face their fears on their own — and eventually follow that same road. When we reconnected, the words “I’ll never find another you” became etched into our history. In the second chapter of “us,” a three-year-old girl became the first bond that tied us — with introductions of initial tears, books, bongos, and backyard adventures at her Pop Pop and Avó’s house. Two became three, and a brand new adventure began. Over the next two years, we learned to navigate life with each other, with our oldest daughter, with our families, and with a brand-new dynamic. The motto in our home became: “My anger should never outweigh my respect for you.” Fights became discussions. Raised voices faded into memory. That time gave us the armor and tools to face whatever came next. And we would need them — when illness came, with death as its companion. “In sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part...” became real before vows were ever spoken. We had never taken those words more seriously. We didn’t think we’d have to. But we did. And we were resilient. They say love can conquer anything. And while we were both skeptics — one of us maybe more than the other — years six and seven gave us the proof we needed. We did battle. And we did it beautifully. And now, in this current chapter — the one where we finally get our happy ending — we get to look back and see just how far the journey has taken us. Our three have become five. Illness has dropped off its unwelcome companion. And now, we get to explore what comes after “Happily Ever After.” So we thank you — all of you — for being part of our journey and for celebrating with us as we begin the unwritten chapters of The Story of Us.