Elijah and I have known each other for years, long enough for friends and family to joke that something was bound to happen eventually. He was always so sweet to me, but also incredibly shy. I’d flirt here and there, little sparks I thought were obvious, but the hints went unnoticed… or maybe I’m just terrible at flirting. Then, one day, I decided to stop waiting. I made my interest impossible to miss. And in December 2021, he finally asked me out. We had a few more dates, and I was sure a kiss was coming. There was even an almost moment. We leaned in, my heart already halfway gone when he paused, smiled… and asked for a hug! I always sensed we’d be together, and so when he did kiss me, after all those years of friendship and quiet glances, it felt like magic. Like something we’d both been carrying in the background all along had finally found its place. Since then, that shy guy has become my loudest laugh, my favorite conversation, my safe place. We share everything; new restaurants we’re dying to try, the juiciest gossip, thrift store finds, new music, even mushroom-hunting on hikes. We cook together in terrible Gordon Ramsay accents, have silly kitchen dance parties, and keep a standing Thursday breakfast date at Southern Kitchen. And yes, we’re constantly rearranging our home to fit thrifted pieces we “absolutely need” (but definitely don’t). Then, in August 2023, he surprised me in the most “us” way possible, a picnic in the park, the kind we’d had so many times before. A blanket under a tree, snacks, books, and nature all around. I thought nothing of it… until he asked me to make this incredible adventure with him last forever. My “yes” came without hesitation, and the world tilted. The whole moment felt like a dream. Elijah is the first person I want to tell everything to, the one who celebrates every little joy with me and holds us steady through the storms. We work hard to make each other feel whole when we’re not at 100%. Things aren’t always perfect or crystal clear, but we do our best to balance each other out, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. I have never felt a love so big, a love that’s patient and real. There are so many magical moments I could go on about, all of them making this day, and everything that led to it, absolutely worth the wait.