Dalton and I have known each other for 13 years, serving together in the Army National Guard. It started out as friendship, respect, and years of shared of service. In 2021, I was transferring back to the 690th Chemical Unit from the 127th Medical Unit for a promotion. Around that time, Dalton reached out to give me the updated schedule for the new unit and asked how I was doing. I told him I was commuting from Daphne to Pensacola, working night shifts at the hospital. I was exhausted, but managing. Without hesitation, he told me to call him whenever I left work so he could stay on the phone and make sure I made it home safely. And I did. Every night after my shift, I’d call him, and he would stay on the phone with me until I pulled into my driveway. We kept that routine until I switched back to day shift — but by then, we didn’t want to stop talking. Not long after, I asked when he was free so we could meet for dinner. He quickly sent me his schedule with the days he was available. One dinner turned into two, and before we knew it, friendship had grown into something so much more. Now, I’m marrying my best friend — the man who made sure I got home safe before he ever asked to take me out.