We met in 2018 as members of an accessibility advocacy group and didn't think much of it. In fact, we only ever sat next to each other during our monthly meetings once. But that changed when we crossed paths on the greenway in front of Central Prison on May 26, 2020. That day, Melissa had decided to go for a bike ride. Brett was looking for a lost key. When Melissa offered to help look for the missing key, Brett graciously accepted. Little did they know that Melissa would end up not only finding the key to Brett's car, but also the key to his heart.

On Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Brett asked Melissa if she would like to go for a sunset bike ride through Dix Park that Friday. He thought he was being smooth about it, but she knew what was up. Friday, April 15 arrived with beautiful sunny weather and the two of them casually rolled through Downtown Raleigh before heading towards the greenway and into Dix Park. The hills through the park had never felt so long before. When they came to a stop overlooking the city and caught their breath, Brett got down on his knee and asked Melissa if she would spend the rest of her life with him. She said "yes," and then Brett's friend Stephen announced himself with a camera and a bottle of bubbly. He had been set up in the park to blend in with the rest of the crowd and captured the moment beautifully.