The most enduring romances begin as friendships. Darren and Gabe met in 2017 while attending college and enjoyed each other's company as friends for several years. It became clear the friendship was developing into something more: playful banter over card games and shy glances across the room gave way to date nights and long hours of deep conversation. However, things were cut short when factors outside their control caused them to lose touch. Though they had stopped speaking, neither stopped thinking of the other and wondering what could have been. Years later, as if guided by the hand of Aphrodite herself, they both had a dream about the other on the same night. The message was clear: "Go to him. He's ready for you now." It started as the rekindling of an old flame, but over time their love for each other grew. The realization that the other was the final person they wanted to be with was a quiet, steady one, as sure as the setting of the sun. On August 23, 2025, the pair travelled to the Great Earthworks in Newark, Ohio. Standing within a vast earthen circle built by the Hopewell people millennia ago to track the movements of celestial bodies, the cite would bear witness to the stars aligning once more. Darren proposed to Gabe beneath a towering oak tree, a symbol of strength and endurance- a tree with deep roots and dense branches designed to withstand any hardship. At the roots of the tree sprouted vibrant orange mushrooms, a reminder that all ends lead to new beginnings and a symbol of transformation. While no long road is passed without challenges, Darren and Gabe welcome whatever blessings or trials may come from the hands of the gods, as long as they can endure them together.