We met on the very first day of medical school orientation, during a “sorting ceremony” that placed students into smaller groups we would work with for the next four years. As fate would have it, we were both assigned to the same group. Not long after, we began studying together and quickly became close friends. Our personalities were nearly opposite, but somehow, the chemistry just worked. We did have one unique thing in common: allergy shots. We started going to the same clinic for our weekly injections, and I’d often joke with the office staff that Raktima was my fiancée accompanying me to every visit. The next few years of med school flew by—filled with long days, frequent coffee shop visits, late-night study sessions, spontaneous ice cream breaks to escape Volker Hall, evenings in the cadaver lab, celebrations after completing each organ module, and our later clinical rotations together. We saw each other nearly every day, and what started as friendship quietly grew into a relationship. As graduation approached, we faced the inevitable question: What comes next? We chose to prioritize our training and matched into residency programs that we each loved, though they were 735 miles apart. The distance was difficult, but our once-a-month weekend trips became even more meaningful, strengthening our bond with every visit. By the end of residency, our priorities had shifted. This time, we matched at the same institution in Memphis for our fellowships. What began as a friendship built on whiteboards, coffee shops, allergy shots, weekend getaways, and museum visits has grown into a lifelong partnership. Raktima became my closest friend on this journey—and soon, she’ll be my wife.

During a trip to Spain for a friend's wedding, I (Raktima) thought it would be nice to get engaged there but doubted it would happen since I thought an engagement ring wouldn't be ready in time. Our plans hit a snag when our train to Barcelona was delayed. Despite my lack of sleep, we hurried to an early breakfast reservation. Dusty suggested I put on some makeup, but I was too tired to wonder why he said that. We took the subway but realized we were headed the wrong way just four stops in. Meanwhile, Dusty was on his phone, and I worried about pickpockets. Eventually, we got on the right train, and Dusty managed to call the restaurant to push our reservation back an hour. Desperate for coffee, I insisted we stop somewhere first. Dusty showed me a café on his phone that looked good, so I followed him, and we passed the stunning Barcelona Cathedral. I couldn't resist taking a Polaroid picture of it, despite Dusty's gentle nudging to keep moving. As we walked, a woman behind the cathedral asked Dusty if he was "David" and offered to take our picture. I hesitated, worried she might be a pickpocket, but Dusty said yes. After some back and forth, I reluctantly set my things down, and to my surprise, Dusty got down on one knee. At first, I thought he was joking, as he had done that before, but then he began to say sweet words and revealed a ring. It finally clicked: he had hired the photographer! He had even messaged her during our train ride and had hinted for me to wear a nice dress. The coffee shop he showed me was just a random Google picture of a coffee shop, and our reservation had been set for an hour later all along. Although I had made things stressful for him, he turned it into an unforgettable proposal, complete with beautiful photos at the cathedral.