We first crossed paths in March 2018 during Basic Military Training. At first, we weren’t particularly close, but as time passed, our connection deepened, and we began spending more time together. Our first real conversation happened during KP duty, and from there, we started sharing stories about our lives outside of training and our families, which brought us even closer. After BMT, we both moved on to tech school at Fort Lee, Virginia, and that’s when our friendship began to evolve into something more. We would find any chance we could after classes to hangout with each other. Even if that meant breaking the rules and having sleepovers in our dorm rooms! We both recognized that what we were feeling went beyond friendship, and we decided to explore it. Before Mel left tech school, we made things official. We spent the next nine months managing a long-distance relationship, Mel in New York and Lyn in Connecticut but soon realized that wasn’t sustainable for us. So, we made the decision to take the next step and moved into our first apartment together.

As we settled into our new chapter of living together, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. In September 2019, I bought an engagement ring and began brainstorming the perfect way to ask. I wanted it to be special, meaningful, and intimate. When we booked flights to visit her family for Christmas, it struck me—this would be the perfect opportunity. Surrounded by the people she loves, it would be subtle yet unforgettable. I decided to make her a custom shirt with a few pictures of us on the front and “Will you marry me?” on the back. I had her mom wrap it up as a Christmas gift, so it would seem casual and unexpected. I made sure she had her nails done, since she’d always told me that’s how she wanted it to be when the moment came. Flying with the ring in my bag was nerve-wracking. I kept imagining her accidentally finding it or TSA pulling it out, and I couldn’t help but feel anxious. I remember us stopping in the Bronx for pizza, and her mom wanted to see the ring, so I quickly showed it to her while Lyn was inside with her dad picking up the pizza. Christmas Eve arrived, and the nerves were overwhelming. Her family was gathered at her parents’ house in the living room, and her dad was holding onto the ring. We told her it was a gift from Wela to keep things under wraps. When she opened the shirt, I made my move. I walked over, dropped to one knee, and asked the question I’d been waiting to ask: “Will you marry me?” And the rest is history.