Evan and Lauren first met outside Rubin Hall, their first year dorm, after an introduction by a mutual friend. Names were exchanged and smiles followed, and they went their separate ways. Lauren walked off convinced she had just met someone named Ethan, mostly because she had been too distracted by Evan to hear much else. Evan, meanwhile, walked away thinking Lauren was strikingly beautiful and made a point of remembering her name. For the next six months, every chance encounter followed the same polite rhythm. They would greet each other warmly, with Lauren saying, “Hi, Ethan,” and Evan graciously saying, “Hi, Lauren.” One evening, Lauren was studying in Rubin’s lounge with a friend when Evan arrived with his own friend. Lauren went to say hello and made introductions. It was only when Evan was introduced once again as “Ethan” that he finally corrected her. Lauren immediately realized she had been calling him the wrong name for months. Color rushed to her face. Evan laughed, Lauren laughed, and in that moment, the awkwardness dissolved into ease. They sat down and had their first real conversation. Their friend soon excused herself and said, “I’m going to go study, but you two keep talking.” And they did. They talked for more than ten hours, losing track of time in a way that felt effortless. Each was convinced they had never talked so easily with anyone before. The night took an unexpected turn when they noticed a man they didn’t recognize in the lounge for an unusually long time. It was odd, but not alarming. The next morning, however, the same man appeared again and followed Lauren to breakfast. Uneasy, Lauren texted Evan and asked, “Am I crazy, or is this the guy from the lounge last night?” Evan immediately offered to come walk her to class. Evan insisted that if Lauren saw him again, she should let him know. When the intruder reappeared in the lounge, Lauren texted Evan, assuming he would be busy. Moments later, the lounge door swung open. Evan had run down to make sure she was safe. From that day forward, they began spending time together every day. Their first official date took them to Little Island. It was a perfect day. They watched the sunset and ended the night at Joe’s Pizza. On April 19, 2022, Evan and Lauren became boyfriend and girlfriend. Since then, they have celebrated graduations, first internships, and first full-time jobs. They have grown close to each other’s families and now consider them their own. They have become the best part of each other’s day, every day, and are lovingly teased by their siblings for celebrating their monthaversaries. They have since celebrated three anniversaries and traveled to Antigua, Disneyland, Miami, Seattle, and Aruba, where they celebrated their third anniversary. Lauren had dreamed of visiting Aruba since childhood and loved that it was called One Happy Island. In Aruba, they swam far out to sea to see sea turtles, Lauren’s favorite animal, in the wild. Evan and the tour guide laughed as they could hear Lauren’s delighted squeals through her snorkel. “This is the best day ever,” she kept saying. The guide, who was also a photographer, mentioned that a sunset photo shoot had just canceled and offered to shoot for them at a discount. Lauren happily agreed, unaware that Evan had already arranged everything. That evening, as the sun began to set, the photographer asked them to stand back to back. When Lauren turned around, Evan was on one knee, proposing as the sun sank into the horizon. She said yes instantly, leaping into Evan’s arms as he spun her around. When she saw the ring, she was speechless. Evan had designed her dream ring. Before proposing, he had asked Lauren’s parents and siblings for their blessing, and all had given it wholeheartedly. They are overjoyed to be getting married and to spend the rest of their lives as best friends, partners, and husband and wife, and feel incredibly lucky to celebrate with everyone they hold dear.