Til death do us part

Sean and Emma met when they were both 16 years old, with their birthdays being only 1 month and 24 days apart. Sean was a junior at Bremen High School in Midlothian, IL while Emma was a sophomore at La Porte High School in La Porte, IN. Both of them being introverted spent a lot of their free time online, which is where they ended up meeting. Sean and Emma “Matched” when flipping through pictures on MyYearBook.com, if any of you remember that old social media page. They started chatting and instantly had a connection, being they were both odd-balls with a dark sense of humor. They both had love for spooky and macabre, had a shared adoration for animals of all kinds, and understood each other’s movie and tv show references. And they both loved to come together over a good debate about subjects that pry most people apart. They got to know each other more and more every day, and their families were supportive of their long distance relationship. If it weren’t for Emma’s parents and siblings, and Sean’s aunt and grandma, they would not have been able to see each other almost every weekend for 2 years. Emma’s older brother took her to meet Sean, who was dropped off by his grandma at the Orland Park mall. Sean was sitting in the StarBucks, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Emma, who was just as nervous and excited. After they finally met, they really hit it off. Sean couldn’t get over Emma’s eyes and smile while Emma couldn’t get over Sean’s cute long hair and height. Sean gave Emma a call on the night of January 5, 2012, where he had asked “Emma, will you be my girlfriend? I don’t care that we would be long distance, I’m willing to put in the effort for us, as long as you feel the same way.” We all know what Emma’s answer was, of course: “YES!” For 2 years following their first meet-up, their families would continue to drive them to a half way point between their houses almost every weekend. They’d spend holidays together, go on family vacation together, and just overall enjoyed being in each other’s company. They both feel “home” when they’re together. For the next 13 years they’d experience endless laughs and cries alike. They’d watch each other change and grow and be there for one another every step of the way as they grew up. They faced ups and downs as any couple does and conquer every hurdle together. They’ve witnessed and supported each other in sickness and health already and couldn’t imagine being by anyone else’s side in those moments. Their families supported their relationship through everything and they wouldn’t know what true love and caring for each other was, if it weren’t for their supportive, loving family members. On Emma’s 23rd birthday, Sean took Emma to the mall where they met because she wanted to go to one of the restaurants located in the mall. While they were sitting outside at a table, far away from the other customers. Awaiting the arrival of Emma’s mom and dad, Sean proposed to her with an engagement ring that was graciously passed down to him from his grandma. He said “We met for the first time at this mall when we were only 16.” Without a clue, Emma laughed and recalled different memories from the night they met. Sean said he wanted to continue creating memories with Emma, got out of his seat, got on one knee, unknowingly, as Emma’s mom was walking up behind him, and asked “Emma, will you marry me?” Emma cried with overwhelming joy and of course, she said “YES!” They cannot wait to share more of their story with you at their wedding on Halloween night! They’ve been through thick and thin over 13 years, and still going, til death do them part.