Cody and Grace’s story began on August 13th, 2022, at the Nease Institute at MVNU. At first, they didn’t expect much—just two people stuck in a program they didn’t want to be in. They bonded over their shared frustration, joking about how they’d leave as soon as they could. While their connection was instant, they were both seeing other people at the time, so what started as a friendship stayed just that—friendship. By November 2022, Cody realized his feelings for Grace had evolved into something more, but unsure of what to do with them, he decided to step away. They both continued seeing other people, thinking their paths had diverged. Little did they know, the best things in life often show up when you least expect them. In March 2023, Cody and Grace reconnected, and suddenly, everything felt different. The spark that had always been there was now undeniable. No longer distracted by other relationships, they realized that what they were searching for had been right in front of them all along. On April 26th, 2023, Cody asked Grace to be his girlfriend, and from that moment, they’ve been inseparable. On November 2nd, 2024, Cody took Grace back to the place where they had their first date, near campus. Surrounded by memories of their time together, he asked her to spend forever with him. Their story is a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful parts of life are the ones that show up when you’re not looking for them, and for Cody and Grace, the greatest love was exactly where they least expected it to be.