Brian and Skylar met in the spring of 2018. Skylar was finishing his final medical school rotations in Bradenton, Florida, while Brian was wrapping up his role at USAmeriBank and preparing for a new adventure on the other side of the world. They matched on Tinder shortly after one of Brian’s rehearsals for The Hunchback of Notre Dame. On their first date, over a couple of drinks, Skylar cut to the chase: “Why are you even here if you’re leaving in a few months?” Brian’s response nearly knocked him off his barstool: “You never know who you’re going to meet.” That was the beginning of something real. Over the next two and a half months, they spent every spare moment together. But by May, change was on the horizon. Brian’s lease ended and he began packing for his travels—trying to fit his life (and every contact lens he could find) into a single Patagonia backpack. Skylar was graduating and moving back in with his mom, Dawn. On May 13, after Brian’s final performance at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, they said goodbye—unsure if they’d ever see each other again. They’d talked about maybe reconnecting after residency, but a year felt like forever. Just days later, as Skylar was helping Dawn move to Atlanta, Brian surprised him with a phone call—and a plane ticket to Bali. Two days after helping his mom unpack, Skylar boarded a 25-hour journey to the other side of the world to spend two unforgettable weeks with Brian. (The story of how Skylar got home is... for another time.) After that trip, they FaceTimed every day. By the time Brian’s travels ended, they knew they wanted to start the next chapter together. So off they went to Connecticut for Skylar’s residency. Brian started working in New York City, planning to train back on weekends. Then, a curveball: the pandemic. Like many couples, they spent lockdown in a small space—in their case, a studio apartment in West Hartford. Skylar worked long hours, Brian worked remotely with their dog Dixie by his side, and they passed the time the best they could. One bored winter weekend, they decided to test each other’s ski skills in Vermont (thankfully, both had told the truth). With one year left in West Hartford, they made a big decision: adopting Frankie, a very vocal mini Bernedoodle and Dixie’s new little sister. Life got louder and sleep got shorter—but their little family grew. They moved to Boston and had a rough start—mostly due to a pager that never slept and often woke up the whole apartment (especially Frankie). But by early 2024, they’d hit their stride and planned a final ski trip to the family condo before it sold. It was a perfect day: fresh powder, clear skies, no crowds. Skylar’s best friend Callie met them on the slopes. After a stop for a few beers, Brian and Charles (his brother) skied ahead and Brian quietly said, “I’m about to propose.” At the top of Rolex, the two of them paused for a photo. Brian dropped to one knee, and suddenly everyone was crying—happy tears, fogged goggles, sore legs, and all. The ride down the mountain was slow, snowy, and full of joy. And now, here we are. Ready for the next adventure—together.