Groom's Version Well as a junior in college I was completely focused on Army ROTC was not at all looking to meet someone. I thought I sure had my whole life planned out. I was going to choose a combat arms branch, move into an apartment, and live the ultimate bachelor life some place far from home. I was never a person who could easily confide in others or feel at ease expressing myself. Then one day I see I have a Facebook notification. It was from a girl who I added a while back that I thought was gorgeous! But secretly never thought I stood a chance with. I'm not sure where it came from but I was like man I'll just go for it and send her a message. To my great surprise she messaged me back and the connection was immediately there. I had never experienced the feelings I was having. Each time we would talk through text or on the phone I would get a nervous feeling in my stomach. All of my friends could tell there was a big change in my life. Once we talked for a while we decided to meet up and watch a movie and converse in person for the first time. When I tell you I was nervous! But I'll never forget the first time I saw her, she was wearing all black (my favorite color) and came walking through my front door. I have never seen such a beautiful sight in my whole life. I couldn't believe such a beautiful woman who was such a talented track star and intelligent individual who even give me the time of day! After that night was over I thought to myself, that is the girl I am going to marry. Which was an extremely big change to what my original plans of being an eternal bachelor were haha. Darneisha had me from day one. She is my best friend, the love of my life, my role model, my confidant, and the one that I plan to spend the rest of my days with.

It was during my junior year of college that everything changed! I remember sitting in my room and getting a friend request from a handsome guy dressed in a military uniform. I wasn’t sure if I should add him because I didn’t know how he knew me. I immediately did some investigation and looked at his profile. He had some mutual friends and attended the same University as me. Days have gone by and I received an unexpected messaged from Nathan! We talked daily and eventually hung out for the first time. On my way over to his apartment I looked in the mirror about 20 times, and kept asking my roommates if my outfit was okay ( I wanted to make a great first impression). The nervousness feeling suddenly vanished when I walked into his apartment and began to talk to him. We conversed the entire night. It felt as if we have known each other for a long time. I left his apartment feeling a little nervous about what he thought of me. I couldn’t tell if this was our first and last time hanging out. The next day I never received a text message from him and immediately told myself, that he was like all the other guys. But in reality, Nathan didn’t want to come off as excited as he really was. He felt the same, that he stood no chance. As time progressed and we continued to hangout and go on dates, I started to feel a feeling that I’ve never felt before. I knew what love was but never actually felt it for someone in this way. I remember sitting at his parents’ house and him telling me for the first time that he loved me. After spending several months together, we talked about our future, what the military would be like, and most importantly we talked about marriage. I never knew at 20 years old I would be planning out my life with someone I met in a year. In December of 2017, Nathan got on one knee and proposed to me in Chicago. Saying yes was by far the easiest and best thing I could’ve done. In him I have found my other half, my best friend, and my biggest supporter.

Nathan and Darneisha are currently living on the coast of Georgia, which is where Nathan is stationed for the Military. Nathan is a Second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and Darneisha is a second grade teacher. The couple plans to travel and eventually move back to Illinois to be with family and friends!