We met during his senior year and my junior year of high school in 2016. I still remember the day I walked into his home with a friend to visit him after he had just been discharged from the hospital. The moment our eyes met, something shifted. From that day forward, we were drawn to one another, two souls aligned, eager to dream, grow, and heal together. Our bond was built through late-night phone calls and endless FaceTime conversations where laughter flowed freely and our talks ran deep. We learned each other’s hearts slowly and intentionally, and before we knew it, our friendship effortlessly blossomed into something more. Even in the midst of exams, papers, and life’s everyday chaos, our love never wavered. In 2019, we took the next step and moved in together, balancing study sessions, career goals, and the quiet moments of joy that made everything worthwhile. Graduation day came, and we stood side by side, filled with pride, hope, and love. Soon after, we made the decision to return to school and pursue another degree. Not long after that, we found ourselves in a familiar park we once escaped to during college. Beneath the gentle shade by the water’s edge, we made a promise, a sacred vow to choose one another, again and again, for the rest of our lives. Our story is living proof that love often finds us when we aren’t looking, but exactly when we need it most. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…” Ephesians 4:2–3 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love…”