Lais and Paul met on a cold night in January 2020, unexpectedly and without intention—the kind of coincidence that only makes sense when you look back. They were both out with friends, each with their own plans, and neither imagined that an ordinary Saturday night would become the beginning of something so meaningful. After a softball game with friends, Paul and his group decided to head downtown for some drinks. Their first choice of bar didn’t work out because the bouncer wouldn’t let him in due to his shoes—a small detail that ended up changing the course of the night in the right direction. They then went to Belfast Love, not realizing that this simple detour had already changed everything. A few hours later, as the bar was closing and last calls were being refused, Lais arrived at the counter at the exact same moment as Paul. Since it was no longer possible to order alcohol, she asked for a glass of water and, with a touch of boldness and humor, asked if he wanted to share. They talked just enough to spark curiosity and interest, and before returning to his friends, Paul asked for her number. Later, he would say it was the best decision of his life. A week later came their first date: ramen, pool, a few drinks, and—sitting at a table with music in the background—their first kiss. More dates followed, including Lais’s first sports game in Canada, until the world suddenly paused. The pandemic kept them physically apart for a while, but they continued talking, laughing, and choosing each other in every way they could. On May 24, 2020, they officially began their relationship. From then on, their story was built through milestones and “firsts”: moving in together in April 2021, traveling across Canada, exploring Toronto, spending weekends at Paul’s family cottage, and discovering that Christmas can, in fact, happen in 35°C when Paul visited Brazil for the first time to meet Lais’s family in December 2021. In 2022, they welcomed Tobey, the dog who taught them about patience, partnership, and the kind of love that comes from building a little family together. Among all their adventures, a tradition was born: every August, visiting sunflower fields—Lais’s favorite flower. And it was there, in August 2024, in a private corner of a sunflower field, with chilled champagne and a photographer hidden among the flowers, that Paul proposed to Lais. Before that moment, he had called her parents in Brazil to ask for their blessing, with her brother translating every word.