Gage and I first crossed paths our freshman year of high school in math class. We just happened to sit next to each other, and before long he had me laughing nonstop with his jokes. Our seats changed every month, but somehow we always ended up next to each other again (which we later found out was very much on purpose by our teacher). We stayed friends for the next two years, until the summer of 2021 when Gage finally called and asked me out. Our first date was simple and perfect—playing arcade games at the mall and eating Chick-fil-A. After a few more great dates, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend on September 10, 2021. For the rest of high school, we were pretty much inseparable. After graduation, I spent two years at Tarleton State University, and we learned how to make medium-distance work, seeing each other mostly on weekends. In November 2024, Gage joined the Navy and began basic training in January 2025. After graduating, he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. Last summer, Gage was able to come home for a short leave before his deployment. We took a quick trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, where we rented a cozy cabin—and in the sweetest way possible, he proposed! We were beyond excited, and we still are as we look ahead to everything this next chapter has in store for us.