I Have Found the One Whom My Soul Loves

We met working at Food City in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. We usually worked similar shifts since we were both still in high school, which gave us plenty of time to talk when we weren't ringing up groceries. Pretty soon we were spending time together outside of work, and spending hours texting. We've been inseparable ever since.

I (Sara) knew I really liked Lucas, but I wasn't quite sure how to tell him. I just wanted an opportunity to spend a little one-on-one time with him. One time while we were working, Lucas told me that he loved homemade pie. I've always enjoyed baking, so I knew this was my chance. I purchased the ingredients to make a homemade pumpkin pie, and I carefully planned my strategy. I waited for a day when we worked the exact same shift, so we would get off at the same time. I brought my pumpkin pie to work and hid it in the breakroom fridge. As we were clocking out for the day, I told Lucas I had a surprise for him. We ran back to the breakroom and I presented him with my homemade pumpkin pie. He was thrilled, and thankfully, he took the hint! We sat in his truck and enjoyed a couple slices together. When we parted ways for the evening, he sent me a text reading "You are amazing, and the pie was pretty good too." Lucas and I have made the pie date a tradition--every year in August, I make pumpkin pie and we sit in the Food City parking lot and enjoy it together.

Our first date was simple but romantic-- we played putt-putt, took a lovely stroll through the park, and ended with some dinner at Wendy's. I (Lucas) knew that I was thinking seriously about asking Sara to be my girlfriend, but I hadn't disclosed my love for lizards, turtles, and other unusual pets. I just had to find out if she would be okay with all my critters. As we were walking through the park, I spotted an Eastern Fence lizard on a nearby tree. I ran to catch it, and before she even knew what was happening, I placed it on her arm and waited anxiously for her reaction. Much to my surprise, she glanced down at her arm, stared at the lizard for a moment, then said, "Oh, it's really cute." I breathed a sigh of relief, and Sara says that I couldn't stop smiling. I knew right then and there I HAD to keep this girl!