The countdown to forever is on!

Have you ever heard of the invisible string theory? In our case, we truly believe this theory explains how Mikey and I became a couple. The theory suggests that some people are destined to be together long before they even meet. It proposes that we cross paths with significant people in our lives without realizing their importance at the time. By the end of our story, you might just find yourself believing in this theory too. Let me give you some background. Both Mikey and I were athletes throughout elementary, middle, and high school. Although we never attended the same elementary or middle school, we both ended up at Veterans Memorial High School. You might think we had the same classes or electives, but that wasn’t the case. Our friends knew of each other, yet we remained unaware of one another’s existence. Even more surprising, we were on the same cross-country team, yet still didn’t know each other, despite the fact that cross-country teams are usually made up of just a few runners. Time passed, and Mikey graduated a year ahead of me. Fast forward to my spring semester of senior year, I was hunting for a job. It was April, and after numerous applications with no success, my little sister, Ana Karen, suggested I apply at Antonio's as a server. I took her advice and landed the job. I met and talked to everyone at work—except for one person: Mikey. The reason? Getting two shy people to interact can be quite a challenge. Two months later, while working a morning shift, our boss approached me with an unusual request. He asked if I would cover a double shift for none other than Mikey, who needed to leave for Austin. Mikey was hesitant to ask someone he didn’t know to cover his shift, but I agreed. Our boss turned to Mikey and said, "You better go thank her; she’s covering your shift." Mikey thanked me and went on his way. As the months went by, Mikey and I started to become more familiar with one another. I noticed his manners and chivalry. He was always asking if I needed help carrying food, refilling drinks, or any other assistance. One of our most memorable moments was when we were organizing silverware and managed to sit down and chat. It was in these small, intimate moments that we began to take a liking to each other. We added each other on social media, and our conversations continued to grow. Our first date was to the movies, followed by another, and another. Mikey asked me to be his girlfriend on February 15, 2019, at South Padre Island. Later, I was accepted into the UTHealth School of Dentistry in Houston and moved there in 2022. After three years of dating, Mikey joined me in Houston and started working as a respiratory therapist at MD Anderson. After an exhausting first year in Houston, we decided to celebrate our achievements with a cruise. Our first stop was Nassau, Bahamas, where we immediately headed to Cabbage Beach. My best friend, Brittany, was with us, capturing photos of me on the beach. Suddenly, I turned around and saw Mikey on one knee. It took a moment for me to grasp what was happening, but then I snapped back to reality and exclaimed, “Yes! I do!”