Erik and Lauryn matched on Tinder at the beginning of 2023. Neither of them expected much to come from the app. Out of all the matches she made on Tinder, Erik was the only one she kept thinking she wanted to message. His profile stood out to her right away: "just a tall guy who doesn't know what he's doing on here." She got the sense he was a little goofy in a way that she would find endearing. He ended up messaging her, and their conversation flowed organically. Lauryn decided to ask Erik out shortly after they started talking. They got together on February 19, 2023. Lauryn wasn't feeling her best and struggled to get through her food and drinks. She was also fifteen minutes late, giving Erik plenty of time to familiarize himself with the menu, haha. Despite that, Erik was kind and engaging. He gave her butterflies :,) They connected effortlessly that night. They discovered they'd been flirting with meeting their whole lives. They went to the same school, worked at the same place, and lived in the same neighborhood - all to end up meeting online. Erik asked Lauryn to be his girlfriend on February 26, 2023. Since then, they've traveled across the state, the country, and the world together. Lauryn moved to Lapel in March 2024, and they have a cozy home with their beautiful fur babies, enjoying life as partners ever since. If you ask Lauryn what she loves about Erik, she'll say it's the way that he immediately felt comfortable and familiar to her. It's in his smile, and in the way they laugh together. It's the way that he listens with the intent to understand and evolve. It's his gentle spirit, his warm embrace, and his grounding patience. He has a unique way of seeing the world and a passion for many things. She admires that he takes on so much with such zeal; he inspires her. She appreciates that he sees her for exactly who she is and loves her more because of it. Things that felt burdensome and stressful before suddenly became cherished. What once felt like flaws now feel beautifully her own. He sees the best in her and still loves her through her worst. She's never known a love that feels so steady, supportive, and kind- one that helps her grow without ever asking her to change. He reminds her daily what it means to be truly seen. If you ask Erik what he loves about Lauryn, he’ll say it’s the way she wears her heart on her sleeve, the way the corner of her eyes wrinkle when she smiles, her contagious laugh, or when she dances for almost any reason. It took him almost no time to see how much she prioritizes relationships, experiences, traveling, animals, and finding the charm and meaning in everyday life. He basically immediately fell for Lauryn. Whether it’s her natural beauty, her magnetic personality, or the way she sees the world and appreciates all the little moments- he knew this was who he wanted by his side for the rest of his life. He’d say that he cherishes her support in him, including his many (many) hobbies, her love of gift-giving to all those she holds dear, and the way she loves him unconditionally for exactly who he is. To him, she is the constantly blooming flower that reminds him of how truly beautiful life can be.