All love stories are unique. Some are grand adventures with many wild twists and turns. Others are tales of fate, destined sweethearts who find each other young and never part with one another. Some are stories of broken roads leading to happiness and light at the end of a dark path. Some stories take years or even decades to properly develop into true love. While some loves are short, sweet and to the point. If I had to describe Our Story it’s a story of finding home. It is funny to think how close Jordan and I lived to one another for nearly our entire lives. How many times we must have passed each other in the store, at a restaurant, or just on the street. And yet, we had no knowledge of each other or what we would one day mean to one another. Jordan is a school teacher with a love of kids, family, and all things outdoors. Charles is a military brat who followed in the footsteps of the family tradition and chose army life. With a love of football, the outdoors, and rodeo. We started our story in the winter of 2021 with our first date nearly derailed by a case of food poisoning in Mobile. I can still picture her the first time I saw her in person. And in all honesty, she looked super irritated. Not the bubbly smiling happy girl I would come to know. Undeterred by what I would later learn is just her normal attitude after getting off work. We had a nice dinner at Willies and would learn that we had quite a lot in common. But we would part with nothing more than a simple agreement that we would continue to talk as I headed west to El Paso, and planned to take full advantage of the new opportunities of my new city. But a grueling work schedule and attempting to establish a home quickly squashed any idea of raising Hell in El Paso. Yet, despite that a single constant ray of light would shine even on my darkest days. Jordan would always message me, asking about my day. And constantly showing devotion to me that I had not originally intended for her. In March of 2022 I asked her to be my girlfriend properly and we would begin our official long distance relationship. Our next proper in person date would come at my cousin’s wedding. Getting to meet what would become her extended family was certainly no pressure for a second date. But what should have been a simple day of celebration and fun turned tragic. As we learned over breakfast that Jordan’s Grandfather had passed away. Fully prepared to be at home with her watching Disney movies and ordering takeout. But Jordan would not let this stop her. In what I can say is to this day the purest most selfless act of love I have personally experienced. Jordan refused to simply stay home and cry as she would tell me, “you didn’t come all the way home to not see your family.” We would go have a great time as Jordan would meet the bulk of my Mother’s family. And even though I know she must have been personally struggling to enjoy the moment. It is a moment that I can say with confidence is one of the key moments in our relationship that I can point to as a “I know you're the right one moment.” All I heard from Family for days and weeks after was. She’s a keeper! You need to not let her go! She’s great, can we expect to see her again?! This would not be the last hardship we would face. Whether it was struggles and a near tragedy at work. More losses in the family and a medical scare of my Father’s health. We have been tested repeatedly. But through it all we have always had each other. We’ve supported and made each other better through the trials and tribulations. We have found a home in one another amongst the tragedy, blessings, hardships, and happiness that comes with life. I can say with Certainty that no matter where we go, or what we are going through. As long as I am with her I am home. And today I am very glad to be home.