Kyle here: In February of 2024 I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Krystal was working as an ER/ICU nurse in North Carolina. We met while I was on a clinical rotation at Duke University. Our first meeting left me wanting to know more about her, she was fearless and I immediately appreciated her ability to flow in and out of conversation. We continued crossing paths in the ER over the next few days. I had about a week and a half left until I had to return to Japan by the time we met. Still, I had the weekend off and kept thinking about this girl that I had just met. It seemed silly for me to ask her out as I had no intention of asking anyone to do long distance and really had no interest in it myself. I could not ignore the spiritual nudge that I felt and the following week so I asked her to dinner. Over dinner, we never had a dull moment in conversation. It was easy, relaxed, and unforced. We went to dinner on a Thursday at Poole's Diner in Raleigh. After we parted ways for the evening, I took the 40 minute Uber ride back to my hotel in Durham, thinking about Krystal the whole way. I sent her a text asking her to coffee in the morning. Coffee lead to mini-golf which lead to walking around the museum which turned into the whole weekend spent together! I flew back to Japan the following Monday, paying for wi-fi on the plane so I could continue talking to her. I think we both thought the relationship might fizzle once the distance became a reality. However, we both think this deepened our relationship because the focus was solely on conversation. Fortunately, I had other training in the U.S. and we were able to spend time with each other over the year. Krystal came to Japan in November of 2024 and left an engaged woman. We have been very blessed this year and are excited to begin a life together. Krystal here: After an exciting engagement and more long distance, Kyle was told he was coming home YAY! But the military had a different idea of "home." We are now currently stationed in Fort Irwin, California right smack in the middle of the Mojave Desert about 45 minutes from ... well everything really. We've spent the last few months really enjoying the slower pace of life and being together finally. We are looking forward to having all of our friends from all over the world and family under one roof this coming June. We love you all and can't wait to get this party started!