Ethan and Leah met for the first time during freshmen year of high school in 2009. They became fast friends as they bonded over their interest in reading, videogames, and debating which Disney movie sequels are actually the best. Whether they were attending a Doctor Who watch party or arguing over the finer points of having a Titanic propeller as a ceiling fan, they always had a blast together. They shared many crazy adventures and together with their friends made it through the trials and tribulations of high school.

As it often does, Ethan and Leah began to walk different paths once college began; and after a year or two, they lost touch with each other. They would not reconnect until October of 2019 when Leah received a message from Ethan checking in to see how she was doing. And just like that, the friendship picked right back up. They would meet several times over the next few months to catch up and spend hours talking about life, hobbies, pets, and new book recommendations. Shortly after enjoying a group trip outing to Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo in January 2020, Ethan officially asked Leah out on a date.

Just as Leah and Ethan began venturing on the journey of their new relationship, the world changed completely. Just a week after Ethan's 25th birthday, the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down the country and all date plans came to a sudden halt. Despite all of the uncertainty, Ethan and Leah began to find other ways to spend time together, at first through phone calls and supportive texts or sharing favorite games and movies, then by taking long walks at the Stone's River Greenway. Soon their walks grew into breathtaking adventures, from the Biltmore mansion and the shores of Charleston to the caldera of Yellowstone and the soaring peaks of the Tetons. It was during one of these long walks in spring of 2021 that Leah discovered a hidden path off their regular trail at Stone's River. At the end of the trail, they found themselves in a little wooded area by a cliff overlooking the river with small purple flowers and honeysuckle in bloom. It was here that Ethan and Leah began talking about their plans for the future.

On a crisp, shiny December afternoon, Ethan asked Leah to go on a walk at Stone's River after a D&D session earlier that day. She begrudgingly agreed and they took off towards the hidden trail to see it once more before the cold weather truly set in. After a long, relaxing stroll through the woods and a brief interruption by an adorable baby deer, they arrived at the spot they found months before. The road to this moment had been long and full of wonderful surprises, and there was one more surprise waiting for Leah. Ethan got down on one shaky knee, and Leah ecstatically said yes. It was time for them to share their dances and dreams as they prepared to ride the waves of life together.