Crown Heights. 2019. A casual connection converged into an effortless current. It was easy, natural and full of the kind of laughter that quieted the rest of the world. Soon after, that current carried us north, to the stillness of New Hampshire's White Mountains. Ela, the ever-enthusiastic planner packed enough food to feed a small expedition. We hiked Mount Crawford, where halfway up the trail Ela discovered a tree whose sap smelled mysteriously like perfume. Naturally, she wandered off to investigate. Meanwhile, Daniel sprinted up the mountain in search of her, imagining every possible scenario—except the truth: Ela, perfectly content sniffing trees like a forest fairy amid an arboreal inquiry. By the time COVID-19 swept through New York, we already knew we didn’t want to face lockdown apart. We moved in together, turning our apartment into a place filled with home-cooked meals, too many (dead) plants, and endless rounds of “What should we watch tonight?” It’s now been six years for us. Ela has since survived many Sidman family vacations. Daniel has since earned his (red) stripes with Ela’s family in Jamaica. Together, we have traveled the world and had a baby, somehow navigating airports, 2 a.m. diaper changes, and our various neuroses with a mix of patience, humor, and a lot of love. Somewhere along the way, between the overpacked snacks, the accidental detours, the family introductions, and the passport stamps, we realized this was it. This was what life together felt like: joyful, surprising, and always an adventure. And now, we can’t wait for the next one. Daniel and Ela