Our love story began in 2012, when two 11-year-olds met at Station Middle School in Barrington, Illinois. We were just kids then—navigating lockers, awkward growth spurts, and the mysteries of adolescence. It wasn’t until 7th grade that we became “official”—if you can call it that. Our version of dating back then looked like holding hands in the hallway, meeting by my locker for a shy hug while our friends giggled nearby, and walking in a pack to Starbucks after school. We had our first kiss at Gobert’s Pumpkin Patch—just a couple of nervous 12-year-olds surrounded by corn mazes and caramel apples. The moment was sweet, a little awkward, and perfectly us. That memory is still one of our favorites. As we grew up, so did our love. We went to high school dances together—homecomings, proms—and supported each other through every season. Elisabeth danced. Kyle played volleyball. He never missed a single one of her performances, and she never missed a game of his. Senior year finally gave us a class together: math, Elisabeth's favorite subject. Kyle tried to cheat off her, but rule-follower that she is, she wouldn’t let him. (He still brings that up.) After high school graduation, life took us in different directions—but never far from each other. Elisabeth went to Illinois State in Bloomington, and Kyle to Benedictine in Lisle. We made long-distance work with lots of visits, late-night phone calls, and weekend getaways. Then COVID turned everything upside down, sending us both back home, but somehow closer than ever. After college, we started a new chapter together—moving in with our two best friends in Arlington Heights. Through every season of life—from locker partners to long-distance, from pumpkin patches to first apartments—we’ve chosen each other over and over again. And now, we can’t wait to choose each other forever.