Burk and Em met at 8:15 pm on a weeknight, January 11, 2022, at Em's favorite wine bar, Foxcroft, in Charlotte, NC. Burk thought it would be nice to get to know each other with after-dinner drinks. Em, fresh off her second job at Charlotte Choir School and starving, ordered scallop pasta. Despite the miscommunication, they hit it off immediately, recognizing in each other shared core values of loyalty, kindness, and discipline. And that they're both the only lefties in their families! They quickly began dating seriously, meeting each other’s families early on and weaving themselves into each other’s lives. Em made the trip to Asheville to support Burk in the Asheville Half Marathon, alongside many of his friends. Things got a bit tough when Burk moved back to Chicago to pursue his MBA, but they persevered through late-night video calls and frequent weekend trips during his first year. In the second year, they moved in together in Chicago, where Em quickly mastered how to ride her bike to work in a blizzard as well as the MBA social scene. Together, they co-hosted Whiskey Wednesday parties, primarily thanks to Em’s love for hosting and baking, making many new friends along the way. In the summer of 2024, Em and Burk moved to Washington, DC. Burk became busier than ever at his new consulting firm, while Em quickly fell in love with her new school, Holy Trinity, earning Teacher of the Year in her very first year. Beyond times, places, and activities, this is a story of resilience and support through rapidly changing life stages. They stood by each other during the toughest and most uncertain moments, and during times when they felt out of place. They were and are loyal to one another. They are supportive of each other's shared and individual dreams. They are kind to each other, even in moments of frustration. Thank goodness for Bumble!