We first met during a weekend of exciting Hawkeye Football because of mutual friends and instantly we connected. What was supposed to be a casual night out turned into hours of conversation, laughter, and realizing we were genuinely interested in each other. Even though life had other plans—him moving away with the Army, and I was still finishing undergrad —we kept in touch. Over time, what started as a spark grew into a deep and meaningful friendship. We supported each other through every season of life, showing up no matter the distance. Of course, our friends and family never quite believed the whole “just friends” thing. And, truthfully, neither did we. One weekend, we finally admitted what everyone else already knew. We shared our first kiss, and from then on it was clear: we were never just friends, we were always meant to be.