Many have asked, “How did you two meet?” and my answer is always, “In the middle of the ocean.” Without fail, a puzzled look follows. But the truth is—that’s exactly where our story began. It was June 18, 2019, during the legendary Raft-Up party in Bermuda. Both of us, passionate carnival lovers, had arrived to celebrate, dance, and revel in the moment. The turquoise water shimmered under the summer sun, music filled the air, and laughter echoed across the waves. It was the perfect backdrop for fate to step in. Jamal was on a raft with his friends, and I was with the group I had traveled with. True to Jamal's friendly nature, he paddled over, flashing that charming smile, and invited us onto their raft. We politely declined, but Jamal—being the persistent and playful soul he is—wasn’t about to give up. Moments later, my friend took matters into his own hands, quite literally, lifting us up and tossing us onto his raft as he made his second rounds. And just like that, the universe made its move. From the moment Jamal and I started talking, it felt like reconnecting with an old friend. Conversation flowed effortlessly, as if we had known each other forever. We danced, we laughed, and for the rest of the day, the ocean wasn’t the only thing pulling us closer. As the event wound down, I realized the tide had risen—much higher than I had anticipated. The shore suddenly felt a world away, and with my less-than-stellar swimming skills, I was stranded. By the time I looked around, my cousin and friends had already made it back to shore. Just as a flicker of panic set in, Jamal and his friend jumped into the water without hesitation, guiding everyone on the raft safely to shore. As I reached the sand, I took off running toward my friends, only to hear my name being called. I turned just in time to see Jamal, emerging from the shorelines, running toward me— envision witnessing a personal Baywatch moment. We exchanged numbers that day and haven’t stopped talking since. If you had asked me then if we’d be here now, I probably would have laughed. But love has a way of surprising you. We defied the miles between Houston, Buffalo, and LA, proving that when two hearts are meant to be, and no distance is too great. Now, I can’t wait to continue this journey—traveling the world, dancing at every carnival, and creating even more magical memories with you and our beautiful family.