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It all started back in 2018 at Mews Tavern in Rhode Island. Marcela and her dear friend Beth were sitting upstairs at their usual table, talking life and big questions. It was a slow night; Mark, working as a bouncer and bartender, wandered over and heard the struggles and launched into a round of deep personal development questions, as he had just started his own personal development journey with Rising Man. He’d ask a question, then walk away, then come back. He wouldn’t accept “I don’t know” as an answer. Something about it stuck. From that moment on, a fast friendship sparked between Marcela, Mark, and Beth. Weekly visits to Mews turned into weekly life chats. One day, Beth leaned over and said, “He’s going to be around a long time.” Marcela laughed and replied, “Him? No way.” At the time, Mark was preparing to leave Rhode Island in search of his next big adventure. In 2020, he made the move to Austin, Texas, and they said their goodbyes. Or so they thought. In 2021, Mark bought a bus to renovate and travel the country. The bus happened to be in New York, so naturally, he made a return stop in Rhode Island. From the moment he came back, he and Marcela picked up where they left off, continuing their friendship, now stronger than ever. By the end of 2022, Marcela was ready for her own leap, much to Mark’s surprise since he thought she would never leave Rhode Island or family. She accepted a job in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mark was planning to go to Mexico with his friend Asa in 2023, so they decided to pivot and chose to come to St. Thomas. The friendship turned relationship set sail for the Caribbean Sea in January 2023. Their time in St. Thomas wasn’t all sunshine, rainbows and palm trees, especially since one person kicked coral on the first weekend. However, Mark and Marcela found new friends, hiked in new places, learned to snorkel and free dive, experienced island living and strengthened their relationship. After a Rhode Island summer, it was time for the next chapter in a new place. This time, they moved together to Austin, Texas in 2023 where they’ve been ever since, building their businesses, their community, and their life side by side. In June 2025, on the very beach where they spent countless hours talking and dreaming, Mark proposed to Marcela. And she said yes. Now onto the next chapter of their lives, together forever and always.