Our story began in the summer of 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic. While the world was navigating under uncertainty, a simple conversation between two teenagers quietly set our future. At 16 and 17, we began getting to know each other through long phone calls that quickly became an important part of our daily lives. By late fall, our connection had grown into a relationship, and we found ourselves falling in love despite never having been face-to-face. That opportunity finally came in July the following year, when Filippo traveled to the United States for the first time. From that visit forward, he returned to America annually, and together we sustained a long-distance relationship that has now spanned over five years. During this time, I also had the pleasure of visiting Italy and Croatia numerous times, experiencing the places and cultures that shaped him, and coming to cherish them as part of our story. In December 2024, Filippo proposed! This was a moment we had both been looking forward to for a long time. I said yes before I even saw the ring. It marked not just an engagement, but the nearing end of our years apart and the beginning of the life we could finally share in the same place. We are beyond grateful for the unwavering support of our families and friends, whose encouragement and support made it possible for us to grow together despite the distance. Above all, we recognize how greatly God has blessed us at every step of this journey. Our path may be unconventional, but it has been marked by commitment, faith, and a deep appreciation for every moment we have shared across the distance. What began as an unexpected connection has grown into a lifelong devotion, a journey we are grateful to continue together.