♡

It all started the day after my 21st birthday at a GreenJackets game. I was there with my coworkers, Henry was there with Eric Hanlon, and—being the unfiltered group we were—we started yelling at him because we thought he looked just like one of our coworkers. Instead of being weirded out (thankfully), Henry thought it was hilarious—and as fate would have it, he actually grew up as childhood neighbors with the guy we thought he resembled. We said a quick hello and went our separate ways. Fast forward a couple of months: I walked into Southbound Smokehouse 1 on Central Avenue, and the very first person I saw when I opened the door was… Henry Flink. We spent the rest of that night dancing, talking, and laughing—and while I didn’t expect it to turn into anything serious, it was the beginning of everything. We exchanged Snapchats (yikes) and just a few days later, he asked me on our first date. We went to Edgar’s Above Broad, then ended the night with Cookout. Classy and perfect. The rest of that summer and into the fall, we were inseparable. It was one of those things that just felt natural—like we were always meant to be in each other’s orbit. In November, Henry left for Army Basic Training. We had only known each other for six months and weren’t sure what the distance would do—but when it came time to say goodbye, neither of us could leave without saying I love you for the first time. Through handwritten letters and Sunday phone calls, we grew even closer. When Henry returned home from training, I surprised him with a tiny gray kitten named Asher William Willis. He may not have been thrilled at first… but now? They’re inseparable best buds. Then in 2023, we bought our first home together—a 1941 cottage in Augusta—and have spent the past two years pouring love, sweat, and probably too many trips to Lowe’s into remodeling it side by side. Since then, we’ve shared so many adventures together—trips, concerts, too much takeout—but New York City has become our favorite getaway. On our first trip there, we ate way too much, walked way too far, and shopped way more than we should have—but it was unforgettable. In November of 2024, Henry proposed by sending me on a scavenger hunt to all the places that mattered in our story: the GreenJackets stadium, Southbound, and finally Edgar’s Above Broad—where he was waiting on one knee. It was the most thoughtful and magical day, and one I’ll always hold close to my heart. When asked what he loves most about me, Henry said, “What do I not love about you?”—but he specifically mentioned my goofy personality, the way I look at him with love, and how I care deeply for the people around me. For me, it’s the calming energy he brings into my life, his passion, his kindness—and most of all, the fact that he’s my best friend.