We met on a dating app (Bumble) and messaged each other for weeks before our first date. In our chats, we realized things we had in common (a mutual love of 1950s film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and things we did not have in common (Maddy asked, "how do you like your steak prepared?" Kayla responded, "Well... I'm vegan."). Our first date started at MCA (the Museum of Contemporary Art). We both arrived early and saw one another for the first time from a distance; Kayla walking up the steps, Maddy approaching. Kayla rushed into the building, delightfully nervous. Maddy walked into the museum and our eyes met. We smiled, held our gaze, and looked away. We fumbled through getting our tickets and starting about the museum, a palpable electric current between us. We remember some strange exhibit that incorporated Star Wars. Kayla remembers wanting to take Maddy's hand, but thinking it was too soon. After making our way through the whole museum, neither of us were ready for the date to end. So we walked. We walked from MCA to State Street, to the Chicago River and back. We walked for hours. We talked about our lives, past relationships, our families, our struggles. Kayla was still not ready for this date to end and coyly asked Maddy, "do you want to come walk my dog with me?" And so, we walked to Maddy's car in the RPM parking lot, drove to Uptown, and Maddy met Chloe. Chloe was excited to meet Maddy, but very jealous. We talked and talked, and we shared our first kiss. This marathon date started at noon and was still going when it was time for Kayla to go meet friends Jess and Ellie at The Chicago Diner for dinner. Maddy offered to drive Kayla to the restaurant. As we left down the stairs and rounded the corner, Maddy took Kayla's hand and Kayla's heart melted.

By summer 2019, we both knew our relationship was headed for marriage. Kayla had decided she was going to propose in November. Maddy simultaneously decided to propose on our trip to Northern California in September.  Kayla always wanted a family ring. Her grandmother offered her great grandmother's engagement ring. Kayla asked Grandna to bring the ring from Louisiana to Kayla's mom's house in Omaha on her next visit. Donna would then bring the ring to Chicago in October.  In August, Maddy contacted Grandna about the ring and learned it was already in Omaha. Because last-minute flights to Omaha were absurdly expensive and it would be suspicious if Maddy had to go out of town for a night, Maddy's parents generously offered to make the drive to Nebraska to collect the precious package and visit with Donna and Raquel.  We left for our trip and Maddy carried the ring in her backpack at all times. She got nervous every time Kayla went fishing in the bag for a Clif bar or sunscreen.  On our second-to-last evening, we drove from Yosemite to a picturesque A-frame cabin in the Sierra National Forest. We listened to our audiobook and took in the scenery, but the drive took a sudden turn when we hit a road closure and didn't have alternative directions, cell service, nor civilization for miles. It took hours to find our way. Maddy white-knuckled the steering wheel up the alternative, unpaved, winding road in the dark. Eventually, we made it into the cabin, completely frazzled from the day's events but grateful to be together. Our plan had been to visit Sequoia National Park the next day. After that hairy drive up the mountain, we decided instead to hang out at the cabin and walk the five minutes to the peak of the mountain for a picnic. Maddy set up the GoPro to "take some pictures." She got down on one knee and Kayla did the signature hands-over-face move. Before Kayla said yes, she asked "how did you get it?!" There were lots of happy tears and, of course, a "yes".