Cassandra and I met back in high school after class during cross country practice. It’s funny to think about now, but the ice breaker wasn’t some grand romantic moment—it was a book. I was reading it for an assignment, and she, of course, was searching for the answers to love. Knowing her, she was probably analyzing every word, looking for some deep, cosmic truth. Meanwhile, I was just trying to make it through class. We started dating on March 6, 2014, and here we are, over 10 years later. It’s been a journey, to say the least. I know what you’re thinking: Hot damn! What took you so long to propose?! Believe me, I’ve heard it all. But if you ask me, it wasn’t about rushing—it was about getting it right. And when I finally got down on one knee on October 25, 2022, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve faced a lot of challenges in my life, but in that moment, as I knelt there, it felt like the weight of the world was on me. Those few seconds waiting for her answer stretched into what felt like an eternity. When she finally said yes, it was like a rush of relief, as if Atlas himself had set the world down. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind in those moments. Knowing Cassandra, she was probably laughing a little on the inside, maybe even silently critiquing my form. But when her answer came, it wasn’t just a word—it was a feeling. I could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice: the love, the excitement, and the belief in us. And in that moment, that was all I needed. Looking back on our journey, we’ve grown up together in ways I couldn’t have imagined. A long-lasting relationship like ours requires patience, adaptation, and understanding. You have to be like water—flexible and willing to mold yourself to the other person—until you eventually coalesce into something stronger. Did she find the answers she was looking for in that book? I don’t know. But what I do know is that we found each other. Over the years, Cassandra has become my life partner, my greatest supporter, and my best friend. And now, as we prepare to take this next step together, I can’t wait to celebrate this union with all of you—a love story that’s been a decade in the making.