Here one typically shares the standard "How We Met" story. Ours is pretty uneventful and rather anti-climatic: Man waits behind woman in the check-in line on our first day of work at Animal Kingdom. Man tries to talk to woman. Woman turns around and shrugs in disinterest. Man feels defeated and hopes he never has to see woman again. Woman feels embarrassment and regret as she watches man walk away. Man and woman sit at separate tables, hoping their paths do not cross again. They hear the other stand up and share their work location, "Wilderness Explorers." Man cringes. Woman rolls eyes. In lieu of sharing the details of the classic enemies to lovers trope, we want to share a different story, "The Moment We Knew." In 2021, three years after we first met, Patrick and I decided to go on our first camping trip. We drove up to Smokey Mountain National Park for the week. Anyone interested in seeing if they are compatible with their significant other should experience setting up a tent at night, in the cold rain, after your lights shut off, while a wolf patrols the campsite. After this, you'll know. Patrick and I already knew we really clicked as boyfriend/girlfriend, but our day hike that turned accidental night hike later in the week was where the real adventure began. Patrick and I decided to go on a longer/strenuous hike, but started way too late in the day. We knew this, and kept our pace as quick as possible on the way up. When we reached our destination, the views were INCREDIBLE. We took a break, cooked dinner with our backpacking stove, and enjoyed the mountains. We enjoyed them a little too much, for a little too long... the sun started to set. The top of this particular mountain had some cabins near the summit that were only accessible via the hiking trails. We stopped by to fill up on water for the way down. The kind guests staying at the lodge asked which cabin we were staying in. Upon hearing "Oh, we are not." Their eyes got wide as they said "You guys need to leave NOW!" They then gifted us two shooter bottles of whiskey after we promised not to drink them until we were safely off the cliffs We ended up hiking for several hours in the dark. We were prepared with enough lights, food, clothes, and water for this circumstance, but never really thought through what a night hike would look like given our experience level at the time. On the way down we were faced with some tricky terrain. I was recovering from a knee injury at the time so Patrick went first and helped me through every step down. We checked in on each other often and kept the tone incredibly positive. We laughed and joked the entire way down. At one point I saw a coyote mere feet from us on our left, I flinched and Patrick asked me what was wrong. "Nothing!" I responded. Through animal sightings and a few interesting characters also out for a night hike, we managed to make it down to the tall caves that meant we were almost back. Absolutely beautiful at night! And super creepy... I took some photos of Patrick to keep everything light and fun. I took some extra seconds to admire the cave as Patrick continued out. He turned around and yelled back to me, "You know Donica, a life with you would be full of adventure." I'm glad it was dark, so he couldn't see me tear up. FINALLY we made it back to the trailhead. We immediately threw our bags on the ground and sat down in the parking lot. Our conversations quickly shifted from fun/positive to how we were really feeling. "I was freaking out the entire time!" "I WAS SO SCARED! WHAT WAS THAT?" "There was totally a coyote right next to us!" We both realized in that moment we were both showing up to be what the other person needed us to be to finish that hike. We have talked about that moment in the cave many times since then. It was the first time we both realized the kind of life we could have together. The beginning of a lifetime of adventures!