We had mutual friends during the first two years of high school, but didn’t officially meet until our junior year. We became friends and talked on AIM every day in the summer leading up to our senior year. The beginning of our senior year, we started our internship at Maimonides Medical Center and became very close. Dereck knew from when we first met that we belonged together. He asked me to be his girlfriend a few times that year, but I was too nervous to say yes. Finally, on December 10, 2007 when he asked me to be his girlfriend, I said yes and we have been together ever since.

I had planned a night out to celebrate my birthday with some friends. We were going to an Escape Room and then to a restaurant. The Escape Room’s theme was Alien Encounter and a precious stone was stolen and we had to find it to bring it back to its rightful owner. We were all having fun in the hour that we were locked in but I didn’t think we were going to get out. With about 10 minutes to go, we were up to the last puzzle and we had to open a box. At that point, Dereck was making sure that I was the one who was finishing the puzzle. When we opened the box, there was a small black box inside. My only thought was “what an interesting prop”. Then I opened the box and saw my beautiful ring, but still not realizing I kept thinking that the props at this place were pretty perfect. Dereck came around to me, got on one knee and asked If I would marry him. I laughed (I always told him I would) and said “you’re so silly” and then of course I said YES!