On November 3rd, 2023, we both attended a church retreat in Portland, Maine. This was the first big church event Dreya had attended since graduating from college, and there were many new faces she had yet to meet—one of them being Marvin’s. Dreya remembers this day very well because not only was it the day before she met the love of her life, but it also happened to be her best friend’s birthday. The weekend was supposed to be all about celebrating her best friend, but it soon became a weekend Dreya would never forget. The following day, November 4th, Dreya saw a tall, handsome Dominican man talking to one of her brother’s old friends in the back of the room. Seeing the perfect opportunity, she decided to make her “move” and joined their conversation. She was then introduced to Marvin, and the rest is history… Just kidding.

After seeing each other at a few more church events, Marvin was starting to lose hope that Dreya had any interest in him—while Dreya was trying to figure out why he hadn’t made a move yet. One day at church, Dreya was talking to Marvin’s friend, who suggested that she go on a date with Marvin. In response, Dreya said she would be at the next all-church event that Friday, and if Marvin asked her out, she would say yes. With the green light finally in sight, Marvin made his move. That night, they talked for hours, completely ignoring everyone else at our table. As they were walking out, Marvin finally asked for Dreya’s number. That Sunday, he asked her out on a double date in Boston the Saturday before Christmas. The day started at a café at 10 a.m. and lasted until 8 p.m.—they just couldn’t get enough of each other. From then on, Dreya and Marvin found any excuse to see each other.

We went on a date almost every week for the next month and were texting nonstop. Dreya, always knowing what she wants, made it very clear that she wanted to pursue a relationship with Marvin. For those who don’t know, Dreya occasionally has to work weekends and never really knows when she’ll get out, since she works in a lab. On a random Saturday in January, Marvin planned a date with Dreya. Neither of them wanted to go a day without seeing each other, despite not knowing how much time they’d have together—especially since Dreya had plans later that night with two of her best friends that she couldn’t miss. Determined to make it work, Marvin decided to pick Dreya up from work. Sitting in his car was a beautiful bouquet of pink and white roses. He then took her to a nice Italian restaurant in the North End, where a card, chocolates, and a jewelry box were waiting for her. Inside the card, Marvin finally asked Dreya to be his girlfriend.

Marvin and Dreya had several conversations about the meaning of love. From the beginning, Marvin made it clear that love was not just a feeling but an action. Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Dreya strove to embody that love for Marvin. However, truly loving someone and completely denying herself for another person was not easy for her. This was Dreya’s first relationship, so love didn’t come naturally to her in a romantic sense. For those who don’t know, Dreya is a vegetarian, while Marvin is obsessed with steak. A month before Marvin’s birthday, Dreya began planning how she wanted to celebrate him. Marvin had always shown his love for Dreya but had been waiting for her to say it first. Wanting to make his birthday special, Dreya did her research, found the best steakhouse in Boston, and made a reservation at Mooo in Seaport. Despite the limited options for herself, she wholeheartedly put Marvin first to ensure he felt celebrated. Before heading out, Marvin pulled out his Bible and started reading some scriptures, and Dreya did the same. In that moment, she knew it was the perfect time. She finally felt that she had learned to embody 1 Corinthians 13. So she found the passage, read it aloud, and then said those three little words: “I love you.”