I met Abby during our freshman year of high school in 2012 when I entered Radnor High School, but it was not until Sophomore year when we shared a study hall together that we really started to get to know each other. I was immediately drawn to her - her smile and beauty are obvious, but her intelligence, our shared joy in competition, sports, and core family values quickly led to a massive crush. Unfortunately, because of me, this led to her getting detention because I couldn’t stop talking to her during quiet hours. Abby cried thinking she would never get into college, but little did she know this would be a foundational memory for both of us to laugh about many years later. Despite this, I guess I made a good impression because our friendship developed into something way more. We dated through our high school years - proms, awkward phases, cheering each other on at each other’s games and Abby graciously chauffeuring me everywhere. Even though we were young, I knew how special what we had was and even after graduation, with Abby off to Richmond and I to Penn State, that this would not be the end of our story. We stayed in touch despite life pushing us in different directions and we both grew in our own paths. On numerous occasions, it felt like fate was driving us back together - a random run in on New Years Eve in Philly during our Sophomore year of college, multiple visits to New York during our Junior year summer and ultimately the pandemic pushing us back to the place we first fell in love. It quickly became clear as we spent more time together, the love we had for each other never left. After being apart for our college years, I knew I didn’t want to waste any more time. As I geared up to move to New York, we took a chance on us. We quickly became immersed in each other’s lives again with Abby visiting any free weekend she had. I felt on top of the world at the simple things like going out on dinner dates, long coffee walks talking about life and our future, and getting to introduce her to all of my college friends who never had the pleasure of meeting her. We spent as much time as we could in Cape May during the summers with Abby’s family, where I gained a deeper appreciation of how amazing her family is and the legacy they hold in such a special place. Holidays with both our families in Tampa, Radnor, Nantucket, Florida and trips to spend time with her RVA friends became core memories. With each passing visit, it became harder to say goodbye. In April 2022, Abby decided to make the move to New York and join me. I will never forget our first night out in the city, meeting up with her friends in the Lower East Side, pinching myself that finally, after all this time, we were back in the same place with such an exciting future ahead of us. Our life together took off. A year later, Abby and I moved in together in Chelsea, which has become our home and such a special place for both of us. I have been so blessed to grow up together with someone through the most pivotal years of my life. We stuck together through some of the hardest times in our lives, supported each other in our goals and consistently pushed each other to be the best version of ourselves. It has been such an amazing journey. After a decade of knowing each other, I finally bought a ring in November to make official what I have dreamed about for years. I proposed in December, surrounded by both of our families in Cape May on one of our million coffee walks down the boardwalk at the Cove. It was the best day of my life filled with so much joy and love. I am beyond grateful for this journey and cannot wait for everything to come. We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you!