The couple’s love story began as students at Howard University. Jessica, a freshman, and Derek, a senior, were both modeling in the regarded HU homecoming fashion show. Jessica, the more studious of the two, was reading through her biology book during rehearsal. Derek seized this opportunity to make a move with his smoothest pickup line, “I’m a biology major, too.” He asked to walk her home to discuss classes and professors. During this conversation, Jessica inquired about the status of his dormitory phone because service had been suspended due to a phone company strike. Derek assumed Jessica was attempting to get his number, but she, on the other hand, was mortified. She insisted she would not date him for one main reason—his height! She loves her 4 inch heels! Fast forward to several months later, and his kind, loving, giving spirit, and certainly his handsomely good looks, won her over. They fell in love, but the challenge in their story was that Derek was graduating and moving to New York. A long distance romance became a way of life for the couple. Between medical school, internship, residency, and their working careers, they ventured all over the country. Their love endured for years from Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Providence RI, and Miami. Eventually through the distance, for better and for worse, the couple lost touch. But as fate would have it, they were blessed to have revived their love years later. They’re excited about this new chapter in their lives, and thrilled that it doesn’t involve anymore red-eye flights. Despite years of relationship travel, this remains one of the couples’ favorite activities. They’ve been all over the world—skydiving in Dubai, shark diving in Cape Town, and elephant riding in Thailand, to name a few. Very befitting given their love of adventure, they were engaged overlooking a spectacular waterfall in Fiji. Jessica and Derek are looking forward to their greatest voyage ever—a lifetime of love together.