Liesl and Javier met on August 25, 2010 at the Chili's on campus at FSU. Liesl had just arrived back from China and was meeting up with a friend for dinner. Javier was hungry, and his roommate was getting dinner at Chili's with a friend. Javier spontaneously tagging along with his roommate was a life changing moment, because from the moment Liesl and Javier met, they were inseparable. Neither of them had ever experienced such instantaneous friendship. There was an almost audible "click", like two matching pieces fitting together and completing a puzzle. That dinner was the beginning of a year of daily get-togethers, study sessions, inside jokes, and a slowly growing love for one another.

A year later, in the early morning hours September 5, 2011, Liesl and Javier began their relationship curled up together in a quiet corner outside having snuck away from Javier's own birthday party. A month prior, Javier had asked Liesl to be his girlfriend. Liesl was hesitant, certainly not wanting to damage their friendship, but over the last year, they had come to know each other better than anyone else in their lives. Sometimes, it felt that there was nobody else in the world. So that night, in that quiet moment of togetherness, Liesl said yes.

Words cannot describe or summarize the experiences Liesl and Javier have had over the course of their relationship. they've been there for one another through so many things. They experienced their undergraduate careers together, got their first jobs as a team, moved into their first house, slaved through grad school (and supported and encouraged one another through the resulting mental traumas of grad school). Liesl and Javier worked and continue to work to support one another's goals. They travel and dream and talk about their life's ambitions. They align with one another and sacrifice for each other. They still share secrets and have inside jokes. Through it all, their love has only deepened; it is unfathomable.

September 5, 2020, on their 9th anniversary, Covid-19 was in full swing. Javier suggested a tour of memories around Tallahassee and a picnic in the park to celebrate. Liesl, Javier and their dog Maya piled into their car and wove through Tallahassee. They visited all of the places that were or had been special to them throughout the 10 years they'd known each other. Just before their picnic, they re-visited the exact spot they had become a couple. Standing in the green space where they'd started all those years ago, Liesl turned to look at Javier, who had a gift box in his hands. Liesl opened it, and inside was a large golden snitch. It was so large, Liesl wondered if it opened. Popping open the clasp, she saw a diamond ring. When she looked to Javier, he dropped to one knee and said, "Nine years ago on this day in this very spot, you said yes. Will you say yes again, today?" Liesl had no other answer but yes and after a couple of repetitions of "Are you serious?" she gave him the answer he was waiting for. YES! Liesl and Javier moved onto their picnic in the park, and enjoyed their time together as fiancés, reminiscing and calling all of their family and friends.

On September 5, 2021, Javier and Liesl will celebrate not only their marriage, but the 10th anniversary of their relationship. September 5th has become such a meaningful day; it is the anniversary of their beginning, their engagement, and now their marriage. They are ready and excited for what comes next, to live the rest of their lives forever entwined.