We're Getting Married!

Mark and I first crossed paths at my college graduation ceremony in June 11, 2017. Fast forward three years, and the world changed with COVID-19. Confined to our homes, the only way we could connect was online. Mark and I began talking over PlayStation chat. Our chats soon transitioned from PlayStation to FaceTime, and before we knew it, we were talking for hours, often until 3 AM. One fateful morning on May 2, 2020, we realized our feelings for each other turned into something more, yet the distance made us hesitant. However, as we discovered how aligned our values and visions for the future were, we decided to take a leap of faith. The following months were tough due to the pandemic. Mark was only able to visit once and it was through flight. But then we found a silver lining: Peace Arch Park, a neutral ground where U.S. and Canadian citizens could meet without crossing borders. For ten months, we made the drive almost every weekend, spending sunlit days together, often under the tent Mark had bought just for our dates. Finally, in August 2021, the border opened, allowing us to see each other more freely. Fast forward to July 26, 2024—an unforgettable day. Mark's sister, Joy, told me we were heading to a fancy dinner, and I needed to look cute. As Joy was driving me and one of my besties, Jessica, to this "dinner", I realized we were going towards Peace Arch Park. When we arrived, I spotted my best friend, Bao-Han, and her husband, Alex, along with Mark’s brother-in-law, Ron. As I finally saw Mark, it hit me—this was it! The setup was breathtaking: strings of photos of us hanging on the tree branches, and a beautiful path of flower petals led the way (shout out to Jessica, Joy, and Ron for the set up!) Mark took my hands in his, trying to hold back tears as he shared his heartfelt words (you already know I was crying). Then, he got down on one knee and asked the question we had both been dreaming of: “Will you marry me?”