It all started with texts and brief phone calls in that old Columbus town, where curiosity and interest drove conversations, and where excitement and smiles reflected in each other’s faces. The idea of dating was always surfacing, but at the same time remained internal for both of them and dating never quite broke through. Then, one moved far away, and it was then that they realized just how close they truly were. And so, it began, they broke through to the other side. Phone calls lasted from midnight to morning with giggles and stories, sneaking out at night to talk on driveways, going to fireworks and movies behind the scenes, and slightly hiding from their families, but that couldn’t last forever, especially if they were to see each other. So, when the two families heard the news, then began the flights train rides. From Columbus to Kansas City, Kansas City to Columbus, Lincoln to Toledo and then meeting in St. Louis in the middle. The time spent to see each other was never an issue, and surely, they don’t want to know the amount of money spent, but that didn’t matter, all that matter were those brief special moments together. As the two got older, new challenges were faced, the challenges of new environments and growing up began to take a toll, so out of unfortunate necessity, the two took a break, they needed to see the world without each other to once again realize just how much they needed each other.

And that’s exactly what happened, after two years apart, the couple reunited and swooped off to Europe in a bold move towards adventure, between Germany, Austria and Italy the two were back together, and this time for good. Heather then moved to Cincinnati while SJ was finishing up school, they shared a crammed University apartment at first, figuring out how to live together and then onto a nice downtown apartment upon graduation. After a year downtown, St John had one more goal to fulfill and that was to live abroad. He picked Ireland and decided he could get his master’s degree as well. Originally, the idea was for Heather to go with him, but it just wasn’t feasible. So, after two years living together, it would be long distance again…pure pain and fear, but something that needed to be done while still young. It wasn’t easy, of course, extreme time zones and an ocean apart, it was the last time these two would be separated. Though, Ireland offered once again a chance to travel together and the two enjoyed the convenience of cheap European flights to spend two weeks in Spain, which turned out to be a newfound love for a country that would become their favorite. Finally, the time abroad was over and the two decided to move to Northern Virginia, just outside of D.C., and it was there, at the Washington Monument that SJ got on one knee and asked Heather to marry him…